SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Lee Solar-kyun, a well-liked South Korean actor greatest identified for his position within the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” was discovered useless in a automobile in Seoul on Wednesday, authorities stated, 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 accordance 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 offer additional particulars together with whether or not they had decided Lee killed himself. However South Korean media retailers together with Yonhap information company stated that Lee’s household earlier Wednesday reported to police that he left residence after leaving a message much like a suicide word.
Lee appeared in “Parasite,” which gained 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 solid, together with Lee, additionally gained a Display screen Actors Guild award for the perfect movement image ensemble solid 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 nicely.
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 position in successful TV drama collection, “Espresso Prince (2007),” and gained mainstream recognition with a collection of hit TV dramas reminiscent of “Behind The White Tower (2007),” “Pasta (2010)” and “My Mister (2018).”
Lee had been beneath 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 accordance 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 non-public 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 members of the family who’re enduring too troublesome pains at this second. I once more sincerely apologize to everybody,” he stated.
Incheon police stated Wednesday they’d finish their investigation of Lee’s drug use allegations 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 stated it had detained about 17,150 individuals over alleged unlawful drug manufacturing, smuggling, gross sales and makes use of this 12 months — a document quantity for a single 12 months.
South Korea has lengthy had the best suicide fee amongst developed nations. It has additionally skilled a string of movie star suicides involving Ok-pop stars, distinguished politicians and enterprise executives. Specialists say malicious and abusive on-line feedback and extreme cyberbullying had been blamed for lots of the movie star suicides.
“Lee confronted some allegations however they haven’t been formally verified. However the media has been assertively reporting about Lee’s non-public life … and I believe that’s one thing unsuitable,” stated 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.
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Related Press writers Jiwon Track and Juwon Park contributed to this report.
