Lee Sun-kyun attends the 2023 New York Asian Film Festival Opening Night at Walter Reade Theater on July 14, 2023, in New York City.

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John Nacion/Getty Images

Lee Sun-kyun attends the 2023 New York Asian Film Festival Opening Night at Walter Reade Theater on July 14, 2023, in New York City.

John Nacion/Getty Images

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, who performed a wealthy entrepreneur within the Oscar-winning movie Parasite, was discovered lifeless on Wednesday. Police suspect he died by suicide.

Police discovered Lee unconscious in a parked automobile in central Seoul.

His supervisor had reported to the police earlier within the day that Lee and his automobile went lacking and that he left an obvious suicide word at his dwelling, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Police additionally discovered a charcoal briquette on the passenger seat, Yonhap reported, which suggests demise by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Since October, Lee has been below a police investigation for suspected use of marijuana and different unlawful medication. Details of the probe and his personal life attracted heavy media and public consideration.

Under South Korea’s strict drug legal guidelines, such expenses can result in a most 5 years in jail. Even in circumstances of lighter sentences, drug allegations can severely taint celebrities’ popularity and hold them out of enterprise for years.

Appearing for police questioning for the primary time in late October, Lee apologized to his household and his followers for “causing concerns.” He declined to reply whether or not he admits drug use.

His drug exams had returned adverse, according to the Incheon Police Station, which is in command of his case.

According to Yonhap, Lee has denied that he knowingly used medication and argued he was deceived by a bar worker into utilizing them.

He reportedly filed a legal criticism in opposition to the bar worker and her confederate for blackmailing him and defrauding him of about $270,000.

Lee, who was 48, was on the peak of his profession that spanned over twenty years.

He made his debut within the early 2000s and shortly turned a family title amongst South Koreans tv watchers via hit dramas akin to Behind the White Tower and Coffee Prince.

He continued to star in well-liked collection, 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 additionally showing in additional commercially oriented movies like All About My Wife.

But 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 dwelling and overseas. It additionally made historical past by successful prestigious awards, akin to the best prize on the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 and 4 Oscars in 2020, together with Best Picture.

Lee, along with his fellow stars, acquired Outstanding Performance by a Cast on the Screen Actors Guild Award.

If you or somebody you realize could also be contemplating suicide, name or textual content the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.