The 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) paid tribute to the late actor Lee Sun-kyun by posthumously awarding him the Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contribution to Korean cinema.
On the afternoon of November 2, during the opening ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, actors Park Bo-young and Ahn Jae-hong hosted the event, which included a special memorial program for Lee Sun-kyun along with the announcement of his award.
As a montage of Lee Sun-kyun’s filmography was shown on the big screen, fellow actors Song Joong-ki and Ha Yoon-kyung were visibly moved to tears. Song Joong-ki had previously paid homage by attending the guest’s visit “Land of happiness”Lee Sun-kyun’s latest film. Ha Yoon-kyung, who shared a professional relationship with Lee Sun-kyun as a fellow actor and former colleague at their agency, appeared particularly emotional.
Park Bo-young, remembering Lee Sun-kyun, said touchingly: “I hope he has now reached a state of peace, just like the final goodbye in ‘My Mister’.” Ahn Jae-hong announced the Lifetime Achievement Award, underlining: “It is significant to have a moment to commemorate Lee Sun-kyun by featuring six of his representative works.” The award will be presented to Lee Sun-kyun’s family.
The festival has prepared a special program entitled “A kind person, Lee Sun-kyun” to honor the actor who passed away last December, shocking both the entertainment industry and fans. Six of his most important works were screened, accompanied by a special commemorative speech.
Lee Sun-kyun’s untimely passing came after a tumultuous period in his life. In October last year, he reported to police that he had been threatened by an official at an entertainment center in Gangnam, Seoul. He claimed to have been extorted of 350 million won by two women, but the situation took a turn when one of the women accused Lee Sun-kyun of drug use, leading to him being classified as a suspect.
Despite undergoing three rounds of interrogation and detailed drug testing at the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, all of which tested negative, Lee Sun-kyun’s case was widely publicized. Some media outlets reported private conversations and details of the investigation, escalating the controversy.
Tragically, on December 27, 2023, two months into the investigation and reportedly under extreme stress, Lee Sun-kyun was found dead.
In a later development, the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency arrested a high-ranking police officer from the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency on charges of leaking information about Lee Sun-kyun’s investigation.
Source: Wikitree
