Korean filmmakers have organized a media conference in Seoul to call for an in-depth investigation into the death of Parasite actor Lee Sun-kyun. The apparent cause of his passing was s**cide, and the circumstances that led to it were allegedly accusations of drug use and blackmailing.
The actor was only 48 years old when he died last month after a strenuous interrogation by the authorities. Lee had been under police surveillance for weeks over suspected illegal use of marijuana and psychoactive drugs.
ALSO READ: Parasite Star Lee Sun-kyun Found Dead at 48 After Suspected Drug Abuse – How Did He Die?
Korean Media Calls For More Investigation Regarding The Death Of Actor Lee Sun-kyun
The shocking death of Lee Sun-kyun raised the alarm in the Korean entertainment industry urging for further examination on the case of the actor. The Association of Solidarity Among Cultural Artists shared a statement via THR to invite Korean media and authorities to help prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
“We have all come together under the firm conviction that no such incident should ever take place again, after facing the tragic death of actor Lee Sun-kyun. We will call for a probe to discover the truth [of Lee’s case], request media outlets to delete articles that do not fulfill their function as journalism, as well as urge authorities to revise the law to protect the human rights of artists.”
The association was joined by 29 groups, including the Busan International Film Festival and the Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association. The press conference will be held on Friday, and several prominent figures such as Parasite director Bong Joon-ho, filmmaker Lee Won-tae, actor Choi Deok-moon, and head of the Korean Producers Guild Choi Jeong-hwa will attend the said event.
South Korea has a tough law against drugs that can possibly result in 14 years of imprisonment, and it can also cover Korean citizens living outside the country. In 2023, over 17,000 people were detained on drug charges alone.
Lee was reportedly questioned by the authorities for 19 hours as he was claimed to have visited Seoul’s Gangnam district where he was said to have taken the drugs. The actor, however, explained that he was tricked and blackmailed by a bar hostess.
Alarming Rate Of Korean Personalities Committing S**cide
This is not the first time famous Korean idols and actors died of s**cide. Lee Sun-kyun’s passing brought back the discussion on mental health and the immense pressure that celebrities face in South Korea. Other popular Korean figures who took their lives in the past years include Kim Jong-hyun in 2017, Sulli and Goo Hara in 2019, and Moon Bin in 2023.
Lee is known for his work on Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 black comedy thriller Parasite. He was also nominated for Best Actor at the International Emmys for Apple TV+’s first Korean-language original series, Dr. Brain.
Former K-Pop idol Amber Liu spoke the truth on the harsh reality of being a Korean star and said via People that “it was fun at first, but later the loneliness and all that stuff settles in.” Depression and mental health were quite taboo topics in the country, and seeking help was almost seen as weird.
The same issue took a toll on and claimed the lives of Lee and these other famous personalities. Hopefully, the upcoming event will help push for a more thorough investigation of the actor’s death which may also help prevent similar cases from happening in the future.
