무명에서 월드스타까지…연기인생 정점서 떠난 이선균 'Parasite' actor Lee Sun-kyun found dead in ap

[정승남세기영어교육연구회장]

(4th LD) 'Parasite' actor Lee Sun-kyun found dead in apparent suicide amid drug probe

무명에서 월드스타까지…연기인생 정점서 떠난 이선균

Park Boram National 17:06 December 27, 2023 Yonhap News

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info throughout)
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By Park Boram
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SEOUL, Dec. 27 (Yonhap) -- Actor Lee Sun-kyun of the Oscar-winning film "Parasite" was found dead in an apparent suicide Wednesday amid an investigation into suspected drug use.
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Police found a man in his 40s dead in a car near Waryong Park in central Seoul at 10:30 a.m. and later identified him as Lee. A charcoal briquette, which can cause fatal carbon monoxide poisoning, was found on the vehicle's front passenger seat.
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Lee's manager had earlier reported to the police that the actor left home after writing a memo akin to a suicide note and that his car was gone. The manager had visited Lee's home in Cheongdam-dong in southern Seoul as he was out of contact.
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Lee's body was later taken to Seoul National University Hospital for his funeral.
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Police believe Lee took his own life. A police investigation was launched to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Lee's death, including the time he arrived at the scene and the time of his death.
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This image of actor Lee Sun-kyun is provided by CJ Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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Lee has gone through three rounds of police questioning on suspicions of using marijuana and other illegal drugs at the home of a hostess working at a high-end bar in Seoul's Gangnam district on multiple occasions since early this year, including last Saturday, when the questioning lasted for 19 hours.
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The police booked Lee as a suspect in late October in the drug investigation, which was prompted by a tipoff that drugs were being illegally circulated among bars in Gangnam.
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The actor reportedly claimed he was tricked by the hostess into taking the drugs and that he did not know what he was taking.
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Lee tested negative in both the brief reagent test conducted during police investigations and the lab-based drug test by the National Forensic Service last month.
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In his first appearance for questioning on Oct. 28, Lee apologized for "causing immense disappointment," saying, "I am sorry for my family, who are enduring extreme pain at this moment."
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Lee also filed a complaint against two people, including the hostess, accusing them of blackmailing and swindling him out of money.
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Claiming his innocence, he also submitted a polygraph test request the previous day. His lawyer had insisted that a lie detector test should be used to determine the truth between Lee and the hostess, who has reportedly told the police that the actor used drugs at her home multiple times.
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The 48-year-old actor rose to global fame after "Parasite," in which he played a major role, won Academy Awards in 2020.
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In 2021, the veteran actor won a Screen Actors Guild Award, along with his "Parasite" cast mates. Last year, he was also nominated for the best actor award at the International Emmy Awards for his role in the sci-fi film "Dr. Brain."
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This year, Lee's two movies -- the horror flick "Sleep" by Jason Yu and Kim Tae-gon's disaster thriller "Project Silence" -- were invited to the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival, with the former in the competition section of Cannes Critics' Week, a parallel film festival of the Cannes Film Festival, and the latter in the Midnight Screening section.
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Lee began his entertainment career in 1999 with an appearance in the music video of Bijou's "It's okay" and had since garnered widespread popularity at home through his romantic roles in drama series, including "Coffee Prince," "Pasta" and "My Mister."
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His agency Hodu & U Entertainment said his funeral will be held "in private" with family members and close friends in attendance.
"We can't express how heartbroken and sad we feel ... Please refrain from spreading speculation or false information (about him)," the company said.
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Actor Lee Sun-kyun arrives at an office of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency in Incheon, about 30 kilometers west of Seoul, on Dec. 23, 2023, for the third round of questioning on suspicions of drug use. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)

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무명에서 월드스타까지…연기인생 정점서 떠난 이선균

송고시간2023-12-27 12:30 연합뉴스 오보람 기자

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올해 칸영화제 2편 초청돼 스포트라이트

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배우 이선균

[롯데엔터테인먼트 제공. 재판매 및 DB 금지]

(서울=연합뉴스) 오보람 기자 = 27일 세상을 등진 배우 이선균(48)은 20대 때 무명 시절을 거쳐 30대 들어 빛을 보다가 40대에 월드 스타 반열에 오른 입지전적 인물이었다.

특히 올해는 그가 주연한 영화 2편이 동시에 칸국제영화제에 초청받으며 20여년의 배우 인생 정점에 올라선 해여서 갑작스러운 그의 죽음은 충격과 안타까움을 주고 있다.

1975년생인 이선균은 한국예술종합학교 연극원에 입학해 1999년 비쥬의 '괜찮아' 뮤직비디오에 출연하면서 데뷔했다.

2001년 MBC 시트콤 '연인들'을 통해 방송에도 데뷔했지만, 이후 오랜 시간 단역·조연을 전전했다. MBC '베스트극장', KBS '드라마시티' 등 지상파 단막극에서 주연을 맡아 천천히 입지를 다졌다.

2007년 드라마 '커피 프린스 1호점' 출연 당시 이선균

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