On December 27, 2023, Lee Sun-kyun died while under police investigation for alleged drug use. He was 48 years old. The actor had been criminally charged in October of that year and, in an unusual move, details of the investigation were reported in the media right from the preliminary investigation stage. He was publicly summoned by the police three times, subjecting him to intense public scrutiny.
Lee Sun-kyun was investigated under the Narcotics Control Law for alleged use of marijuana. During the investigation, he claimed that he was tricked into taking substances by an entertainment venue manager in Gangnam, identified as “A.” He also claimed that he was blackmailed by A and extorted 350 million won, filing a criminal complaint on charges of extortion.
Both rapid reagent tests and detailed forensic examinations returned negative results for drugs. Until the day before his death, Lee Sun-kyun continued to assert his innocence, repeatedly claiming that he had been wronged and even calling for further investigation using a lie detector to prove his claims.
As criticism grew over what many described as an excessive and coercive investigation, police said they disagreed with claims that their handling of the case had led to such a tragic outcome. However, shortly after the third round of interrogations, Lee Sun-kyun was found dead in a park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. With his death, the case against him was officially closed due to “lack of judicial authority.”
After his passing, a wave of grief spread throughout the cultural and artistic community. A joint statement titled “Cultural Artists’ Demands in the Face of Actor Lee Sun-kyun’s Death” was released by the Cultural Artists Coalition. Directors Bong Joon-ho and Jang Hang-jun, actor Kim Eui-sung, singer Yoon Jong-shin and others have called for a thorough investigation into what they described as the grave character assassination that Lee Sun-kyun suffered while he was alive.
In October last year, the 29th Busan International Film Festival honored Lee Sun-kyun with the Korea Film Achievement Award, recognizing his profound influence after his sudden passing.
Close colleagues also shared personal memories. Actor Song Joong-ki, who was especially close to Lee Sun-kyun, performed My Mister’s “Grown Ups” OST on MBC Radio FM4U’s Perfect Day with Lee Sang-soon, recalling, “Every time I waited for my first scene, he would say, ‘Hey kid, come here,’ buy me jjajangmyeon, and even take me out for a drink during the day. He always took such good care of me.”
Actor Yoo Jae-myung, who regarded Lee Sun-kyun and Jo Jung-suk as brothers, also shared her wish. “Just like the title of our film Land of Happiness, the set seemed full of joy. We laughed non-stop, shared household chores as a family, and had a lot of fun together.”
Lee Sun-kyun’s wife, actress Jeon Hye-jin, stopped all activities following her husband’s sudden death and had to endure a long period of mourning. Many around her respected her need for time, while silently hoping for her return. After 1 year and 8 months since her last project Not Others, she returned to the limelight with the Genie TV original series Mother and Mom.
A graduate of the Theater Department of Korea National University of Arts, Lee Sun-kyun made his debut in 2001 through the MBC sitcom Lovers and the musical The Rocky Horror Show. After years in obscurity, he rose to prominence with Behind the White Tower and Coffee Prince, earning recognition as a highly skilled actor.
He went on to direct numerous successful projects, including Pasta, Golden Time, All About My Wife, Helpless, A Hard Day and My Mister. His global breakthrough came with Parasite, which brought him international acclaim and placed him at the center of major stages such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Awards.
Two years later, Lee Sun-kyun is remembered not only for his extraordinary work, but also for the unresolved pain and questions surrounding his final days, a lasting reminder of both his artistry and the heavy toll he bore to the end.
Sources: naver
