Lee Solar-kyun attends the 2023 New York Asian Movie Competition Opening Evening at Walter Reade Theater on July 14, 2023, in New York Metropolis.
John Nacion/Getty Photographs
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John Nacion/Getty Photographs
Lee Solar-kyun attends the 2023 New York Asian Movie Competition Opening Evening at Walter Reade Theater on July 14, 2023, in New York Metropolis.
John Nacion/Getty Photographs
SEOUL, South Korea – South Korean actor Lee Solar-kyun, who performed a wealthy entrepreneur within the Oscar-winning movie Parasite, was discovered useless on Wednesday. Police suspect he died by suicide.
Police discovered Lee unconscious in a parked automotive in central Seoul.
His supervisor had reported to the police earlier within the day that Lee and his automotive went lacking and that he left an obvious suicide word at his residence, in accordance to Yonhap Information Company.
Police additionally discovered a charcoal briquette on the passenger seat, Yonhap reported, which suggests loss of life by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Since October, Lee has been beneath a police investigation for suspected use of marijuana and different unlawful medicine. Particulars of the probe and his personal life attracted heavy media and public consideration.
Underneath South Korea’s strict drug legal guidelines, such prices can result in a most 5 years in jail. Even in instances of lighter sentences, drug allegations can severely taint celebrities’ repute and preserve them out of enterprise for years.
Showing for police questioning for the primary time in late October, Lee apologized to his household and his followers for ”inflicting considerations.” He declined to reply whether or not he admits drug use.
His drug assessments had returned detrimental, in accordance to the Incheon Police Station, which is in control of his case.
Based on Yonhap, Lee has denied that he knowingly used medicine and argued he was deceived by a bar worker into utilizing them.
He reportedly filed a prison criticism towards the bar worker and her confederate for blackmailing him and defrauding him of about $270,000.
Lee, who was 48, was on the top of his profession that spanned over 20 years.
He made his debut within the early 2000s and shortly grew to become a family identify amongst South Koreans tv watchers by way of hit dramas corresponding to Behind the White Tower and Espresso Prince.
He continued to star in common sequence, together with My Mister in 2018 and Diary of a Prosecutor in 2019.
Lee additionally had a prolific profession in movie, usually collaborating with acclaimed arthouse filmmaker Hong Sang-soo but in addition showing in additional commercially oriented movies like All About My Spouse.
However essentially the most impactful work in his filmography was director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite.
The black comedy thriller about social inequality was not solely a serious field workplace success at residence and overseas. It additionally made historical past by profitable prestigious awards, corresponding to the best prize on the Cannes Movie Competition in 2019 and 4 Oscars in 2020, together with Greatest Image.
Lee, along with his fellow stars, obtained Excellent Efficiency by a Forged on the Display screen Actors Guild Award.
If you happen to or somebody you recognize could also be contemplating suicide, name or textual content the Suicide & Disaster Lifeline at 988.