‘Parasite’ actor Lee Sun-kyun found dead in apparent suicide

• Parasite actor Lee Sun-kyun was found dead.
• He was the subject of a drug investigation.
• His death appears to be a suicide.

The entertainment world is mourning the death of South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun.

Known for his outstanding role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, the actor was found dead in the South Korean capital, Seoul.

Lee, 48, was found unconscious on Wednesday, December 27, inside a vehicle in one of the city’s main parks.

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Lee’s death is still under investigation and it is thought to be a suicide.

According to the BBC, the police stated they received a report indicating that the actor had left his home after leaving a note, although this has not yet been confirmed.

The renowned actor had been the subject of an investigation since October for alleged drug use, particularly marijuana and ketamine, according to reports from the Yonhap news outlet.

He was suspected of having used these substances with a waitress at a bar in Seoul, although Lee had claimed to be unaware that they were illicit drugs.

The investigation is ongoing

The waitress told police that the actor had used drugs at her home on several occasions, an allegation that Lee denied.

He had previously expressed his willingness to take a lie detector test and his drug tests had returned negative or inconclusive results, News1 Korea reported.

Lee’s management agency, HODU&U Entertainment, issued a statement asking for respect and requesting that people not spread misinformation based on speculation.

They ask that the memory of the actor and his career be honored in light of his sudden death.

Lee Sun-kyun’s impact on the film industry

Lee Sun-kyun was married to actress Jeon Hye-jin and they shared two children. He had a successful career that spanned more than two decades in the entertainment industry.

His performance as Park Dong-ik in Parasite catapulted him to international fame, contributing to the film’s resounding success.

It won four Oscars in 2020, including Best Picture, being the first non-English film to achieve such a feat.

The news of Lee’s death has greatly impacted the South Korean entertainment industry.

The impact of the drug allegations on Lee’s career

Lee had recently been dropped from some ongoing projects, such as the television series No Way Out television series.

Other companies had begun taking down promotional material that included the actor in light of the drug accusations.

South Korea has strict laws regarding crimes involving illicit substances — marijuana use carries a prison sentence of up to five years.

The expansion of the country’s drug crimes department and the escalation of their ‘drug war’ has put pressure on celebrities accused of such offenses.

Celebrities face public scrutiny

According to the BBC, Lee Sun-kyun is not the only South Korean artist under scrutiny for alleged drug use.

Renowned K-pop figures such as G-Dragon were recently acquitted of similar accusations.

Meanwhile, actor Yoo Ah-in is currently being investigated.

These events have sparked a broader debate in South Korean society about illicit substance use and the responsibility of celebrities as public figures.