On December 27, 2023, Lee Sun-kyun passed away while under police investigation for alleged drug use. He was 48 years old. The actor had been criminally charged in October of that year, and in an unusual move, details of the investigation were reported by the media from the preliminary inquiry stage. He was publicly summoned by police three times, placing him under intense public scrutiny.
Lee Sun-kyun was investigated under the Act on the Control of Narcotics for alleged marijuana use. Throughout the investigation, he maintained that he had been deceived into taking substances by a manager at an entertainment establishment in Gangnam, identified as “A.” He further claimed that he had been blackmailed by A and extorted of 350 million won, filing a criminal complaint on charges including extortion.
Both rapid reagent tests and detailed forensic examinations returned negative results for drugs. Up until the day before his death, Lee Sun-kyun continued to assert his innocence, repeatedly stating that he had been wronged and even requesting additional investigations using a lie detector to prove his claims.
As criticism grew over what many described as an excessive and coercive investigation, the police stated they did not agree with claims that their handling of the case had led to such a tragic outcome. However, shortly after his third round of questioning, Lee Sun-kyun was found deceased in a park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. With his death, the case against him was officially closed due to “lack of prosecutorial authority.”
Following his passing, an outpouring of grief came from across the cultural and artistic community. A joint statement titled “The Demands of Cultural Artists Facing the Death of Actor Lee Sun-kyun” was released by the Coalition of Cultural Artists. Filmmakers Bong Joon-ho and Jang Hang-jun, actor Kim Eui-sung, singer Yoon Jong-shin, and others called for a thorough investigation into what they described as the severe character assassination Lee Sun-kyun endured while alive.
In October last year, the 29th Busan International Film Festival honored Lee Sun-kyun with the Korean Film Achievement Award, recognizing his profound influence following his sudden passing.
Close colleagues also shared personal memories. Actor Song Joong-ki, who was particularly close to Lee Sun-kyun, played the OST “Grown Ups” from My Mister on MBC Radio FM4U’s Perfect Day with Lee Sang-soon, recalling, “Whenever I was waiting for my first scene, he’d say, ‘Hey kid, come here,’ buy me jjajangmyeon, even take me out for daytime drinks. He always took such good care of me.”
Actor Yoo Jae-myung, who considered Lee Sun-kyun and Jo Jung-suk like brothers, also shared his longing. “Just like the title of our film Land of Happiness, the set felt joyful. We laughed nonstop, shared chores like a family, and had so much fun together.”
Lee Sun-kyun’s wife, actress Jeon Hye-jin, halted all activities following her husband’s sudden death and endured a long period of mourning. Many around her respected her need for time, while quietly hoping for her return. After 1 year and 8 months since her last project Not Others, she made her comeback with the Genie TV original series Mother and Mom.
A graduate of the Korea National University of Arts’ Department of Theater, Lee Sun-kyun debuted in 2001 through the MBC sitcom Lovers and the musical The Rocky Horror Show. After years in obscurity, he rose to prominence through Behind the White Tower and Coffee Prince, earning recognition as a highly skilled actor.
He went on to lead numerous successful projects, including Pasta, Golden Time, All About My Wife, Helpless, A Hard Day, and My Mister. His global breakthrough came with Parasite, which brought him international acclaim and placed him at the center of major stages such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Awards.
Two years on, Lee Sun-kyun is remembered not only for his remarkable body of work, but also for the unresolved pain and questions surrounding his final days an enduring reminder of both his artistry and the heavy cost he bore until the very end.
Sources: naver
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