A civil defense official in South Korea's capital, Seoul, said authorities have found actor Lee Sun-kyun, one of the stars of the Oscar-winning film "Parasite," dead today, Wednesday, following a report of his disappearance. Lee (48), who played the role of a wealthy family patriarch in the film, was under investigation for allegations of illegal drug use amid a government crackdown that had seen him questioned by police three times. One of the interrogation sessions lasted 19 hours earlier this week.
According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, the actor stated during the investigation that he had been tricked into using drugs by a waitress at a bar who tried to extort him. A civil defense official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case, that authorities found Lee during a search operation after a report of his disappearance.
Earlier, Yonhap reported, citing police, that Lee was found in a car in a park in Seoul after his manager reported to the police that the actor had left home, apparently leaving a suicide note. Police officials did not immediately respond to phone calls from Reuters for comments. Lee's management agency also did not respond to calls.
Violations of strict drug laws in South Korea can lead to imprisonment for six months to up to 14 years for repeat offenders and traffickers. The film "Parasite," produced in 2019 and directed by Bong Joon-ho, won four Oscars in February 2020 in categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. It received six Oscar nominations.
