Bong Joon-ho, Yoon Jong-shin, and Other Cultural Artists Urge Truth Investigation into the Late Lee Seon-gyun Case

Cultural Artists Solidarity Holds Press Conference and Issues Statement
Directors Bong Joon-ho and Lee Won-tae, Singer Yoon Jong-shin Attend
Likely to Demand Legal Revisions for Protecting Human Rights of Cultural Artists

Director Bong Joon-ho, singer Yoon Jong-shin, and other cultural artists will issue a statement demanding a thorough investigation into the case of actor Lee Seon-gyun, who passed away while under police investigation for drug use allegations.

Director Bong Joon-ho is answering questions from the press at the official press conference for the film Parasite held on the 19th at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

On the 9th, the Cultural Artists Solidarity Conference (tentative name) announced that it will hold a press conference at the Press Center in Jung-gu on the 12th to release a statement titled "The Demands of Cultural Artists Facing the Death of the Late Actor Lee Seon-gyun."

The announcement is expected to be attended by director Bong Joon-ho, who worked with Lee Seon-gyun on the film "Parasite," as well as director Lee Won-tae, singer Yoon Jong-shin, actor Choi Deok-moon, and others.

They plan to demand a thorough investigation by the authorities into the Lee Seon-gyun case, the removal of articles that violate journalistic ethics, and amendments to current laws to protect the human rights of cultural artists.

The Cultural Artists Solidarity Conference explained, "Facing the tragic death of actor Lee Seon-gyun, we share the belief that such incidents must never happen again."

The late Lee Seon-gyun was under police investigation for drug use allegations since October last year and was found dead last month on the 27th inside a car parked near Waryong Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Previously, he had consecutively tested negative in both preliminary and detailed drug tests and had expressed his innocence during police questioning. Following the incident, the police's humiliating style of investigation and some media's indiscriminate reporting came under scrutiny.

The Cultural Artists Solidarity Conference was formed with the participation of 29 film and cultural organizations, including the Korean Film Directors Association, the Korean Scenario Writers Association, the Korean Management Federation, the Busan International Film Festival, and the Women Filmmakers' Association.