SEOUL, South Korea — Actor Lee Solar-kyun of the Oscar-winning film “Parasite” has died, South Korea’s emergency workplace confirmed to The Related Press on Wednesday.
Lee was discovered useless in a automobile in a central Seoul park on Wednesday, it mentioned. Police earlier mentioned an unconscious Lee was found at an unidentified Seoul location.
South Korean media retailers together with Yonhap information company reported that police had been looking for Lee after his household reported him lacking after writing a message just like a suicide word earlier Wednesday. In keeping with the information company, a charcoal briquette was found within the passenger seat of the automobile.
Lee was greatest identified for his function in “Parasite,” by which he performed the pinnacle of a rich household. In 2021, he gained a Display Actors Guild award for “forged in a movement image” for his function in the identical movie.
He was nominated for the very best actor on the Worldwide Emmy Awards for his efficiency within the sci-fi thriller “Dr. Mind” final yr.
Lee was a well-recognized determine on Korean screens for many years earlier than his “Parasite” fame overseas. He turned well-known for his function in a well-liked drama sequence, “Espresso Prince (2007),” and gained mainstream recognition with the medical drama “Behind The White Tower,” adopted by “Pasta (2010)” and My Mister (2018).”
Lee had been below a police investigation into allegations that he used unlawful medicine on the residence of a bar hostess. Lee insisted he was tricked into taking the medicine and that he didn’t know what he was taking, in response to Yonhap. However the investigation prompted in depth tabloid protection and unconfirmed on-line rumors about not solely his alleged drug use but in addition his non-public life. Lee filed a go well with towards two individuals together with the hostess, alleging they blackmailed him.
When he was first summoned for questioning at a police station in Incheon, a metropolis close to Seoul, in late October, he deeply bowed a number of instances and apologized to his followers and household. “I really feel sorry to my members of the family who’re enduring too tough pains at this second. I once more sincerely apologize to everybody,” he mentioned.
Incheon police mentioned Wednesday they might finish their investigation of Lee’s drug use allegations however would proceed to research the 2 individuals Lee had sued.
South Korea has strict anti-drug legal guidelines however has seen hovering drug-related offenses lately. Final week, the Nationwide Police Company mentioned it had detained about 17,150 individuals over alleged unlawful drug manufacturing, smuggling, gross sales and makes use of this yr — a file quantity for a single yr.
South Korea has lengthy had the best suicide charge amongst developed nations. It has additionally skilled a string of celeb suicides involving Ok-pop stars, distinguished politicians and enterprise executives. Specialists say malicious and abusive on-line feedback and extreme cyberbullying had been blamed for most of the celeb suicides.
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“Lee confronted some allegations however they haven’t been formally verified. However the media has been assertively reporting about Lee’s non-public life … and I feel that’s one thing mistaken,” mentioned Kang Youn-gon, a media communication professor at Seoul’s Chung-Ang College.
Lee is survived by his actress spouse Jeon Hye-jin and two sons.
Should you or somebody you already know could also be battling suicidal ideas, you possibly can name or textual content the U.S. Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 any time day or evening, or chat on-line at 988lifeline.org.
