Actor Lee Sun-Kyun Death: South Korean star Lee Sun-Kyun, known for starring in the 2020 Oscar-winning film 'Parasite', was found dead in his car on Wednesday morning. According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, the actor's body was discovered in Waryong Park, Jongno-gu, central Seoul, the police confirmed. He was 48.

As per local media, the police had been looking for Lee after his family claimed he left home early on Wednesday after leaving a suicide note.

South Korean actor Lee Sun-Kyun dies

The renowned South Korean actor was on a drug use trial. Amid the investigation, Lee's dead body was discovered in his vehicle in a park in Seoul. The actor's identity was verified on December 27 morning, following a mysterious phone call.

Reportedly, he inhaled smoke from a charcoal briquette inside his car that may have led to his death, indicating suicide. Since October, Lee Sun-Kyun has been under police investigation for alleged drug use, which has also led him to withdraw from several upcoming projects.

Who was Lee Sun-Kyun?

A seasoned South Korean actor, Lee Sun-Kyun, has delivered standout performances in an extensive career spanning over 20 years. He has worked in notable productions like My Mister, Coffee Prince, My Sweet Seoul, Miss Korea, and A Hard Day.

He was born in 1975 in South Korea's Seoul and studied at the Korean National University of Arts. He is survived by his wife and two children. He began his career in musical theatre.

He became internationally known after his film Parasite won an Oscar for best feature picture. He also won a Screen Actors Guild Award along with his castmates.

Lee Sun-Kyun drug case probe

Since October 2023, Lee Sun-Kyun has been facing illegal drug usage, which has prompted an ongoing investigation. According to a report by Koreaboo, the actor underwent interrogation three times and also sought a lie detector test on the 26th. He kept denying the charges, stating he didn't intentionally consume hard drugs.

During the probe, Lee said that he used a straw to ingest substances through his nose, believing them to be sleeping pills and having no idea about their narcotic nature.

Further, a thorough analysis by the National Institute of Forensic Science, following a simple reagent test, confirmed the absence of any drugs.