South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his starring role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, has died in an apparent suicide in central Seoul. He was 48.
Police said they received a missing persons report from Lee’s manager after the actor left home early Wednesday morning, leaving behind a suicide note. Lee was later found in a car at a park in Seoul.
The actor’s death was “presumed to be suicide,” police said, per CNN.
South Korean officials confirmed Lee was under investigation for illegal drug use and had been interrogated for 19 hours last week on December 23. Police said Lee had been questioned three times since October and reportedly admitted to taking the drugs but claimed he was tricked into taking them and then blackmailed.
However, according to CNN, Lee was drug tested repeatedly and the results were always negative.
The actor filed a lawsuit against the alleged blackmailer, but police said they received a tip about Lee’s alleged use before his suit was filed.
“Actor Lee Sun-kyun passed away today,” Lee’s agency Hodu & U Entertainment confirmed in a statement, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap. “There is no way to contain the sorrow and devastated feelings.”
“Please refrain from spreading false information based on speculation or assumption,” the company added.
