Parasite star Lee Sun-kyun's car pictured as investigation begins after death

27 December 2023 , 10:29

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Parasite star Lee Sun-kyun's car pictured as investigation begins after death

A car in which Lee Sun-kyun was found dead after an apparent suicide has been towed away as police begin an investigation into his death.

The Parasite actor, 48, was found unconscious in a car in a central Seoul park on Wednesday, South Korea’s emergency office announced. South Korean news agency Yonhap reports Lee's body was found after his wife Jeon Hye-jin altered police to what appeared to be a suicide note she had found from her husband.

Lee, who played the Park family father in the 2019 Best Picture Oscar winner Parasite, had reportedly been under police investigation over his alleged use of marijuana and other psychoactive drugs. The dad-of-two had been questioned three times by police over his alleged drug use, including a 19 hour grilling by authorities over the weekend.

Tributes have been pouring in for Lee Sun-kyun following his apparent suicide (AFP via Getty Images)

The Parasite actor was found dead in his car a park in Seoul, South Korea on Wednesday (YONHAP/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Yonhap reports that Lee claimed he had been tricked into taking drugs by a bar hostess who then tried to blackmail him. Those convicted of drug related offences in South Korea face tough punishments, with repeat offenders and dealers often facing up to 14 years in jail.

Lee, won won a Screen Actors Guild Award along with his Parasite castmates in 2020, briefly spoke with reporters in late October before entering an Incheon police station. The late actor told the press: "I sincerely apologise for causing great disappointment to many people by being involved in such an unpleasant incident. I feel sorry for my family, which is enduring such difficult pain at this moment."

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Following Lee's apparent suicide, police have been seen investigating the car in which the Killing Romance actor's body was found at a park in central Seoul on December 27, 2023. According to reports, authorities found a charcoal briquette in the passenger seat of the car.

Many have paid tribute to the late actor following news of his death breaking (YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images)

"I’m so sad to wake up to the news of Lee Sun-kyun’s passing. Apart from playing a major part in the biggest South Korean film of all time he also gifted us some incredible performances as anti-heroes in A HARD DAY and JO PIL-HO: THE DAWNING RAGE. He will be missed," one fan of the late actor wrote on Twitter as news of Lee's death broke.

Another online mourner added: "Lee Sun-Kyun was a great actor. First introduced to him via R-Point as a kid, then he exploded with Parasite. At this last Fantastic Fest with Sleep and Project Silence he really cemented himself as a compelling leading man. Thoughts are with his family during this tragic time."

"Heartbroken by the news about Lee Sun-kyun," a third wrote as they penned a tribute on Twitter (X). "One of South Korea's great contemporary actors whose presence in arthouse dramas or mainstream genre hits always felt distinctive. Will be missed dearly."

The police investigating the car before it was towed away on Wednesday (YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images)

In addition to attracting attention from a Western audience due to his appearance in Oscar-winning black comedy Parasite, Lee also won critical acclaim for his starring roles on stage, other movies and the small screen. In 2009, the late actor received a Best Actor award from the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival for his role in Paju. Other film credits included Helpless (2012), All About My Wife (2012) and Nobody's Daughter Haewon (2013).

In 2021, Lee took on the role of a brain scientist trying to solve the mysterious death of his family by hacking into the brains of the deceased, as the series Dr. Brain became the first first Korean-language show to be produced for Apple TV. Lee's performance in Dr. Brain saw him nominated for first Korean-language show.

Away from his career, Lee married his girlfriend of seven years Jeon Hye-jin in May 2009, with the couple going on to welcome two sons into the world together.

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Zoe Delaney