'Parasite' actor and Oscar winner Lee Sun-kyun found dead
South Korean police have announced that Lee Sun-kyun, an actor in the Oscar-winning film "Parasite," has passed away.
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According to Haber Global, citing South Korea's news agency Yonhap, it is suspected that the actor may have died by suicide.
South Korean media reported that the actor was found in the early hours of the day.
Lee Sun-kyun starred in the film Parasite, which won South Korea its first Oscar for Best Picture.
It is also reported that a charcoal briquette was found burning next to Lee Sun-kyun.
Lee was under investigation on charges of using marijuana and psychoactive drugs.
Local media reported that the actor had lost television and advertising work following the drug investigation.
In South Korea, drug use is investigated as a serious crime.
It is noted that 48-year-old Lee had been questioned for 19 hours over the weekend.
It is also reported that police found a note at Lee's home.
WHO IS LEE SUN-KYUN?
The 48-year-old actor graduated from South Korea's prestigious Korea National University of Arts. He first appeared in a television project in 2001. Lee Sun-kyun's fame spread globally with Bong Joon-ho's film Parasite. The Oscar-winning film told the story of a poor South Korean family living in a small, dark semi-basement apartment.
The film became the first South Korean production to win the Oscar for Best Picture. The film also made history as the first non-English language film to win the Best Picture Oscar. The actor gave a statement in October regarding accusations of drug use.
At that time, he told reporters that he “apologized to his family and the public for the disappointment he caused.” In South Korea, drug use is strictly prohibited with heavy penalties. Lee Sun-kyun was married to fellow actor Jeon Hye-jin, and the couple had two sons.