Actor Lee Sun-kyun may be a local celebrity in Korea, but he was put on the global stage when Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite made its way to the Oscars. Though he has been doing steady work since the release of the film, it looks like fans won’t be seeing any more of him in the future.
As reported by Deadline, Lee has been reported dead after going missing in Seoul, South Korea. Authorities were said to have started looking for the actor when his family had reported him missing, and he had apparently left a message that some are saying are akin to a suicide note.
Lee’s body was found dead in a car at Seoul Park. The actor was 48-years-old.
Apparently right before his death, Lee was under investigation with the local police for drug use after the South Korean government had decided to crackdown on illegal drugs. As a result, Lee had to drop out of his drama No Way Out which had just started production.
In Parasite, Lee had played the part of Park Dong-ik, a wealthy architect who had lived an upper-class life with his family. Things took a turn for the worse for the Parks when the lower-class Kim family somehow swindle their way into their home as workers and tutors.
No official statement has been released from Lee’s family or any of his colleagues, but his fans online are definitely saddened to hear about the news of his sudden passing.
