Lee Solar-kyun, a well-liked South Korean actor greatest identified for his function within the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” was discovered useless in a automobile in Seoul on Wednesday, authorities mentioned, after weeks of an intense police investigation into his alleged drug use.
Police and emergency officers initially discovered Lee in what they believed was an unconscious state within the automobile parked on a avenue in northern Seoul. Emergency officers later confirmed he was useless, in keeping with Seoul’s Seongbuk police station.
Police had been trying to find Lee, 48, after receiving a report that he was lacking.
They refused to supply additional particulars together with whether or not they had decided Lee killed himself. However South Korean media shops together with Yonhap information company mentioned that Lee’s household earlier Wednesday reported to police that he left house after leaving a message just like a suicide observe.
Lee appeared in “Parasite,” which received Oscars for greatest image and three different classes in 2020. The category satire was the primary non-English-language movie to win greatest image within the then-92-year historical past of the Academy Awards, and was the primary South Korean film to win an Oscar. Within the movie, Lee performed the pinnacle of a rich household.
The movie’s forged, together with Lee, additionally received a Display Actors Guild award for the most effective movement image ensemble forged in 2020. He was nominated for greatest actor on the Worldwide Emmy Awards for his efficiency within the sci-fi thriller “Dr. Mind” final 12 months, as effectively.
Even earlier than “Parasite,” Lee had been a well-liked actor in South Korea for a very long time. He rose to stardom for his function in successful TV drama sequence, “Espresso Prince (2007),” and gained mainstream recognition with the medical drama “Behind The White Tower (2007),” “Pasta (2010)” and “My Mister (2018).”
Lee had been underneath a police investigation into allegations that he used unlawful medication on the residence of a bar hostess. Lee insisted he was tricked into taking the medication and that he didn’t know what he was taking, in keeping with Yonhap. However the investigation prompted in depth tabloid protection and unconfirmed on-line rumors about not solely his alleged drug use but additionally his personal life. Lee filed a swimsuit towards two individuals together with the hostess, alleging they blackmailed him.
When he was first summoned for questioning at a police station in Incheon, a metropolis close to Seoul, in late October, he deeply bowed a number of occasions and apologized to his followers and household. “I really feel sorry to my relations who’re enduring too tough pains at this second. I once more sincerely apologize to everybody,” he mentioned.
Incheon police mentioned Wednesday they’d finish their investigation of Lee however would proceed to research the 2 individuals Lee had sued.
South Korea has strict anti-drug legal guidelines however has seen hovering drug-related offenses in recent times. Final week, the Nationwide Police Company mentioned it had detained about 17,150 individuals over alleged unlawful drug manufacturing, smuggling, gross sales and makes use of this 12 months – a report quantity for a single 12 months.
South Korea has lengthy had the very best suicide charge amongst developed nations. It has additionally skilled a string of celeb suicides involving Okay-pop stars, outstanding politicians and enterprise executives. Consultants say malicious and abusive on-line feedback and extreme cyberbullying have been blamed for most of the celeb suicides.
“Lee confronted some allegations however they haven’t been formally verified. However the media has been assertively reporting about Lee’s personal life; and I believe that’s one thing mistaken,” mentioned Kang Youn-gon, a media communication professor at Seoul’s Chung-Ang College.
Lee is survived by his actress spouse Jeon Hye-jin and two sons.
Related Press writers Jiwon Music and Juwon Park contributed to this report.
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