Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun (48), who was under suspicion of drug use, was found dead on December 27. According to police and fire authorities, Lee’s body was discovered inside a parked car near Waryong Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. In the front passenger seat of the gray SUV where his body was found, one used charcoal briquette was reportedly discovered.
Around 10:02 a.m., a report was received at 112 from Lee’s manager, stating, “(Lee) hasn’t been in contact since leaving home.” Lee had reportedly written a will the previous day and left home without returning. A close associate of Lee mentioned, “We couldn’t reach (Lee) since last night, so people around him kept searching.”
In response to a joint request received around 10:30 a.m., the fire department dispatched and discovered Lee’s body in the vehicle, immediately transporting it to the hospital.
Since the beginning of this year, Lee had been under investigation for drug use, including marijuana and ketamine, at the Seoul residence of Kim (29, female), the manager of an adult entertainment establishment in Gangnam. During the initial police summons, Lee underwent a reagent test using urine, followed by a two-step (hair and armpit hair) precise examination at the National Forensic Service, both of which yielded negative results.
Throughout three police interrogations, Lee consistently denied the allegations, claiming that he mistakenly ingested the substances provided by Kim, believing them to be sleeping pills, with no intention of engaging in drug use.
Lee’s agency officially confirmed his death and requested, “Please refrain from speculations.”
HODU&U Entertainment released a statement, saying, “Actor Lee Sun-kyun has left this world,” expressing profound sorrow and a sense of bleakness. They further added, “We earnestly request the public to refrain from spreading false information based on speculations or malicious reporting about the circumstances surrounding the deceased’s final journey.”
The funeral of Lee is scheduled to be held quietly with the attendance of family and colleagues. The agency stated, “We express deep condolences on the final journey of the deceased.”
After graduating from the Department of Theater at the Korea National University of Arts, Lee debuted in the musical ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ in 2001. He gained widespread love for his roles in MBC dramas such as ‘Behind the White Tower’ (2007), ‘Coffee Prince’ (2007), ‘Pasta’ (2010), and tvN’s ‘My Mister’ (2018). In 2020, he ascended to global stardom by appearing in the award-winning film ‘Parasite’ at the Academy Awards.
