‘Parasite’ actor Lee Sun-kyun dies at 48

‘Parasite’ actor Lee Sun-Kyun has died at the age of 48 on the morning of Wednesday, Variety reported citing the Associated Press and the South Korean news agency Yonhap. He was a South Korean actor who was best known for his role in the 2020 Oscar Best Picture winner ‘Parasite.’ According to the Associated Press, the actor was found dead in his car in the Central Seoul park. Reportedly, the police was locating Lee after his family informed the officials that Lee left the house with a suicide note early Wednesday.

Lee had been in he spotlight for being a subject of an investigation for potential illegal-substance use. The authorities were investigating the actor along with seven other people. Lee claimed that he have been a victim of the blackmail and had lost hundreds of thousand dollars to the extortionist.

The police questioned Lee regarding alleged use of marijuana among other drugs earlier this year at the residence of an hostess of a high-end bar in Seoul, according to Yonhap. The interrogation took place thrice until last Saturday to which the actor stated that he had been duped and had no idea what he was ingesting.

About Lee Sun-Kyun

In 2020, ‘Parasite’ won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Director for Bong Joon-ho. Lee, who portrayed Park Dong-ik, the wealthy patriarch in the film, also received a Screen Actors Guild award. Post-‘Parasite,’ he starred in Apple TV+’s ‘Dr Brain’ and earned a Best Actor nomination at the 2022 International Emmy Awards.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Lee featured in notable South Korean films like ‘Payback,’ ‘Diary of a Prosecutor,’ ‘My Mister,’ and more. He continued to make waves at Cannes with projects like ‘Project Silence’ and ‘Sleep,’ the latter dominating the Korean box office for three weeks after its September release.

Sadly, Lee passed away, leaving behind his wife, actress Jeon Hye-jin, and their two children.