South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun of Oscar-winning film ‘Parasite’ is found dead

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Lee Sun-kyun, a renowned South Korean actor noted for his performance in the Academy Award-winning film “Parasite,” was discovered deceased in Seoul on Wednesday. The discovery followed an extensive police investigation into his suspected drug usage.

Authorities located Lee in a vehicle in northern Seoul, initially believing he was unconscious. However, emergency personnel later declared him dead, as reported by the Seongbuk police station in Seoul.

Following a missing person report, police had been actively searching for the 48-year-old actor, as stated by Seongbuk police.

Details surrounding his death, including whether it was a suicide, remain undisclosed by the police. Nonetheless, South Korean news sources, including Yonhap news agency, reported that Lee’s family had informed the police of a message he left, resembling a suicide note, earlier that day.

Lee’s remains were subsequently moved to a local hospital in Seoul.

Lee gained international acclaim for his role in “Parasite,” a film that achieved historical significance at the 2020 Oscars by becoming the first non-English-language movie to win Best Picture, among its four Oscar wins. It also marked a first for South Korean cinema at the Oscars. In the film, Lee portrayed the patriarch of an affluent family.

His accolades include a Screen Actors Guild award in 2021 for his part in “Parasite.” He was also nominated for Best Actor at the International Emmy Awards for his work in “Dr. Brain” last year.

Lee’s career in South Korea spans several popular TV dramas, including “Coffee Prince” (2007), “Behind The White Tower” (2007), “Pasta” (2010), and “My Mister” (2018), earning him widespread fame.

Lee faced legal scrutiny over alleged illegal drug use in a hostess bar, vehemently denying knowledge of the substances he was purportedly given, as per Yonhap news agency reports.

This report includes contributions from Big Big News writer Juwon Park.

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