South Korea has been in the spotlight due to the recent death of actor Lee Sun-kyun after a lengthy investigation into his alleged involvement in illegal drug use – now, the Parasite director and others are calling for an investigation into his death.
The investigation also brought to light his affair, which tarnished his public image as a family man. On December 27, Lee was found dead in his car of an apparent suicide. His death has led Korean celebrities and actors to call for change.
Bong Joon-ho and directors want further investigation
Authorities found Lee Sun-kyun’s car parked near Waryong Park in northern Jongno-gu, Seoul. The actor had died of an apparent suicide. Authorities were called when Lee’s wife, actor Jeon Hye-jin, found an apparent suicide note after her husband left home.
Days prior, Lee has gone through his third round of a 19-hour interrogation with police. He had also requested a lie detector test to help prove his innocence. As a result of his death, authorities closed the case.
According toThe Korea Herald, The Association of Solidarity of Cultural Artists made a public statement urging authorities and media to prevent similar deaths like Lee’s from happening.
“In the face of the tragic death of actor Lee Sun-kyun, we shared the same heart that this should never happen again. We will call for investigation officials’ probe to discover the truth, request media outlets to delete articles that do not fit their function as media, as well as urge authorities to revise the law to protect the human rights of artists,” they said in a joint statement.
Parasite director Bong Joon-ho, singer-songwriter Yoon Jong-shin, director Lee Won-tae, actor Choi Deok-moon, and the head of the Producers Guild of Korea, Choi Jeong-hwa, will be in attendance at a planned press conference on Friday, January 12, calling on a further investigation into Lee’s death.
Since his death, authorities have arrested a woman suspected of blackmailing the actor, according toThe Strait Times.
Gabriela Silva was a Senior TV & Movies Writer on Dexerto’s US team, specializing in Netflix originals, K-Drama, and Disney+ shows. She also has bylines at ScreenRant, Pop Br, and Showbiz Cheat Sheet.
