Acclaimed Korean actor Lee Sun Gyun, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite”, was found dead on Wednesday, Dec. 27, amidst an ongoing investigation into alleged drug use.
Korean news outlets reported that authorities discovered Lee unconscious in his car near Waryong Park in Seoul around 10:30 AM. While an official cause of death is still under investigation, it has been widely speculated as suicide.
Lee, 48, had been battling accusations of drug use since last October, strongly denying all allegations. In a desperate attempt to clear his name, he even requested a polygraph test from the police just yesterday.
During his third police summons on Dec. 23, Lee made a poignant plea, stating, “I hope the police will judiciously determine who between me and the blackmailers holds credibility in their statements.”
Ahead of his victory in “Parasite”, Lee appeared in numerous dramas and movies such as “All About My Wife”, “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon”, “Our Sunhi”, “A Hard Day”, “The Advocate: A Missing Body”, “The King’s Case Note”, “A Special Lady”, and “Take Point”.
Lee’s last work before his passing is the upcoming series “No Way Out”.