South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, globally recognized for his performance in the award-winning movie “Parasite,” tragically passed away at the age of 48 amid an investigation into alleged illegal drug use, as confirmed by the police on Wednesday.
Authorities in Seoul responded to a missing person report from Lee’s manager, leading to the discovery of Lee in his car on Wednesday morning.
According to The CNN, Police have indicated that the cause of death is presumed to be suicide.
In recent months, Lee had been questioned three times by authorities in Incheon as part of a probe into suspected drug usage.
Notably, Lee was detained for 19 hours on December 23 before being released the following day.
Despite undergoing multiple drug tests, all results had reportedly been negative, according to Incheon police, although the exact number of tests wasn’t disclosed.
Police also mentioned the arrest of one man and one woman in connection to the ongoing drug investigation.
Lee Sun-kyun gained immense acclaim for his portrayal of Park Dong-ik, the father figure in the affluent Park family, in the critically acclaimed film “Parasite.”
His contributions to other notable works such as the 2007 series “Behind the White Tower,” the 2010 series “Pasta,” and the sci-fi thriller “Dr. Brain,” for which he earned an International Emmy Award nomination, further solidified his legacy in the entertainment industry.
