"'Unjustly Accused of Drug Use' Lee Seon-gyun Found Dead... Police to Close Investigation with 'No Prosecution' Decision"

Actor Lee Seon-gyun (48), who was accused of drug use, has died, and the police are expected to close the investigation with a "no prosecution" decision. During the three police summons investigations, Lee continuously expressed his innocence but ultimately passed away without confirming the investigation results.

According to the police on the 27th, Lee was found dead in his car parked in a park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at around 10:30 a.m. The police launched a search after receiving a report from Lee's close associate that he had left a note resembling a suicide letter and had lost contact. However, it was reported that Lee was already unconscious when found.

Lee had been under police investigation for marijuana and psychotropic drug charges under the Narcotics Control Act. The suspicion of Lee's drug use surfaced in October. It was reported that a top actor was under a preliminary police investigation for violating the Narcotics Control Act. Although Lee's real name was not disclosed at the time, the next day his agency issued an official statement revealing that "Lee Seon-gyun had been continuously subjected to extortion and threats from a person involved in the (drug) case," which shocked the public.

Lee Sun-kyun [Image source=Yonhap News]

Since September, the police investigating celebrity drug cases first obtained a statement regarding Lee's drug use suspicion from A (29, female, detained), a manager at a nightlife establishment in Gangnam, Seoul. The police formally charged Lee with marijuana and psychotropic drug offenses and summoned him for the first time on October 28. At that time, Lee bowed his head and said, "I sincerely apologize for disappointing many people by being involved in such an unfortunate matter."

In the second investigation, Lee claimed, "A deceived me and gave me the drugs. I did not know they were drugs." Both a simple reagent test using urine and a detailed hair analysis returned negative results.

Lee was summoned for the third time on the 23rd and underwent an intensive 19-hour investigation until the early morning of the next day. Along with the drug use charges, he also testified as a victim in a case where he had filed a complaint against A and two other women for extortion. After finishing the police investigation, Lee said, "Now, I ask the police to carefully judge which testimony between me and the extortionists is credible."

The next day, through his lawyer, he requested the police to conduct an additional polygraph test. He appealed that it was unfair to be accused of drug use based solely on A's testimony without physical evidence. Lee's legal team stated, "If A's testimony were true, the National Forensic Service's detailed analysis should have shown positive results, but Lee tested negative," and added, "Because the situation is so unfair, A should also undergo a polygraph test to scientifically verify whose testimony is accurate."

However, Lee, who claimed his innocence through his lawyer, was found dead the following morning. The police plan to close the investigation related to him with a no prosecution decision due to his death as a suspect. A police official said, "It is regrettable that Lee has passed away," but added, "Investigations of other suspects related to this case will continue according to procedures."