Oscar-winning Parasite actor Lee Sun-kyun found dead amidst drug investigation

Lee Sun-kyun, the South Korean actor widely recognized for his role as the affluent patriarch in the Oscar-winning movie "Parasite," was discovered dead on Wednesday in an apparent suicide in a Seoul park, as confirmed by officials in the capital. 

The 48-year-old actor, whose character met a gruesome fate in the groundbreaking 2019 film—the first South Korean film to win an Oscar—had undergone police interrogation three times as part of a government-led crackdown on illegal drug use. One of these sessions extended to a grueling 19 hours over the weekend.

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Tragic Circumstances Unfold

The actor claimed to have been deceived into drug consumption by a bar hostess attempting to extort him, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.Authorities located Lee during a search prompted by a missing person report, as disclosed by an anonymous fire official to Reuters due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Lee was discovered in a vehicle at a park in Seoul, following information from his manager, who informed the police that the actor had departed home, leaving behind an apparent suicide note, as shared by an anonymous police official.

Global Acclaim

The actor gained global recognition for his role in the dark-comedy thriller directed by Bong Joon-ho. "Parasite" achieved monumental success at the 2020 Academy Awards, securing victories in four categories: best picture, best director, best original screenplay, and best international feature film, out of six Oscar nominations.

Born in 1975, Lee Sun-kyun held prominent roles in South Korean cinema, starring in notable films like the 2012 thriller "Helpless" and 2014's "All About My Wife." He also made a mark in the acclaimed 2018 TV series "My Mister." Further expanding his repertoire, Lee took on the lead role in Apple TV+'s inaugural Korean-language original series, which premiered in 2021. Lee's wife is the award-winning actress Jeon Hye-jin, and together, they share a family with two children.

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