Actor Lee Seon-gyun Found Dead on 27th
Under Investigation for Drug Use Since Last October
Actor Lee Sun-kyun (48), who had been under police investigation for drug use allegations, was found dead, and foreign media also reported his death, known for the film 'Parasite,' showing interest in celebrity issues related to drug investigations.
On the 27th, the UK’s BBC, citing domestic media, reported, "Lee, who won an Oscar for the film 'Parasite,' was found dead," adding, "There was significant attention surrounding the drug-related investigation, which greatly damaged Lee’s reputation."
BBC stated, "Lee had been under investigation for drug use allegations since last October," and "He is suspected of using drugs with an employee at a bar in Seoul, and he claimed that he only took what the employee gave him without knowing it was an illegal drug."
It further explained, "In South Korea, drug crimes such as marijuana are considered serious offenses, and consuming marijuana can result in a prison sentence of up to five years."
Actor Lee Seon-gyun (48), who is accused of drug use, is attending his third investigation at the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division of Incheon Police Agency on the morning of the 23rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Reuters also focused on the news of Lee’s death. The outlet, citing fire authorities and others, reported, "Police who launched a search after receiving a missing person report found Lee’s body," and "The manager informed the police that Lee left home after leaving a suicide note."
Reuters introduced the deceased Lee as "an actor who appeared in director Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 film 'Parasite,' which won four awards at the 2020 Academy Awards in February, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film."
On the same day, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP), citing domestic media, reported Lee’s death, stating, "Lee, once famous for his wholesome image, was excluded from TV and advertising markets due to the drug scandal."
Meanwhile, Lee was found dead inside a car parked in a park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, that morning. Since last October, he had been under police investigation for marijuana and psychotropic drug charges under the Narcotics Control Act, and even four days before his death, on the 23rd, he underwent an overnight 19-hour interrogation.
On the day, Lee Sun-kyun’s agency, Hodoo&U Entertainment, announced, "Actor Lee Sun-kyun passed away today," expressing, "We are overwhelmed with grief and devastation." They also requested, "Please refrain from spreading false information based on speculation or rumors so that the deceased’s final journey is not unjust."
※ If you or someone around you is experiencing difficult feelings such as depression or other hard-to-talk-about concerns, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling through the Suicide Prevention Hotline ☎ 1393, Mental Health Counseling ☎ 1577-0199, Lifeline ☎ 1588-9191, Youth Hotline ☎ 1388, Youth Mobile Counseling app ‘Da Deureojul Gae,’ KakaoTalk, and other platforms.
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