Lee Sun-kyun, of Parasite and TV’s My Mister and Dr. Brain, Dead at 48
Lee Sun-kyun, who played the wealthy Park family patriarch in the Oscar-winning film Parasite and whose TV credits included My Mister and Apple TV+’s Dr. Brain, has died at age 48.
The South Korean actor was found on Wednesday morning in a car parked in central Seoul, dead in an apparent suicide, South Korean police told NBC News. Law enforcement had reportedly begun looking for Lee upon receiving a tip from his manger that he had left behind what appeared to be a suicide note.
Lee had been the subject of a weeks-long investigation into alleged drug use. Lee in his defense had claimed he was tricked into taking the drugs, and had filed a suit against two people also involved in the incident, alleging they blackmailed him.
“I feel sorry to my family members who are enduring too difficult pains at this moment,” the AP quotes Lee as saying when he was first called in for questioning by law enforcement. “I again sincerely apologize to everyone.”
Lee’s many TV credits include Loveholic, Behind the White Tower, The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince, Teuripeul, Pasta, Golden Time, Miss Korea, My Mister (which won Best Drama at the 2019 Baeksang Arts Awards), Diary of a Prosecutor, Dr. Brain (a sci-fi thriller that debuted on Apple TV+ in November 2021, and for which Lee earned an International Emmy nod) and, most recently, the SBS TV drama Payback.
For his role as Parasite‘s Park Dong-ik, Lee was a part of that acclaimed film’s SAG Award-winning cast.
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Awful news. Just awful. RIP and condolences to his family and friends.
So ver, very sad. he was a infertilités actor and I loved him in Parasite….
This is so terrible. I could believe it when I read about this morning . I first saw him more than 10 years ago in Coffee Prince. He had such an amazing presence. I cannot image how desperate he must have been seeing his career, reputation and family life destroyed.
This is what happens when the press and social media flip things around to make the accused guilty until proven innocent…
the south korean government has blood on their hands.
Estava tão ansiosa esperando a 2° temporada de Dr. Brian.
Lee Sun-kyun foi incrível como ator nessa série.
Really heartbreaking news!!
This happened just because he smoke a joint. While also being blackmailled by 2 ppl. And the police questioned him in total of 19 hours while he was tested negative and everyone turned against him for months, polce, media, knetizens. They acted like he commited Murder!.. its disgusting ! , the korean entertainment industry is Toxic! I luved him as an actor with one of my favs was My Mister.