SEOUL – Lee Sun-kyun, a South Korean actor who drew global attention with his performance as the wealthy patriarch in the Oscar-winning film Parasite (2019), was found dead on Wednesday in an apparent suicide in a Seoul park, officials in the capital said.

Lee, 48, had faced police questioning three times over accusations of illegal drug use amid a government crackdown, with one session running 19 hours over the weekend.

The actor had said he was tricked into taking drugs by a bar hostess trying to blackmail him, Yonhap news agency reported.

The authorities found Lee in a search triggered by a report that he was missing, a fire official told Reuters on condition of anonymity, as the matter is sensitive.

Earlier, citing police, Yonhap said Lee was found in a car at a park in Seoul, after his manager told police that the actor had left home, leaving an apparent suicide note. Previously, it said his wife had reported the incident.

Officials at Seoul’s Jongno and Seongbuk police stations did not immediately respond to telephone calls from Reuters to seek comment.

Lee’s agency, HODU&U Entertainment, also did not respond to calls.

However, domestic media cited a statement by the agency that expressed sadness at his death, while urging restraint regarding false information, speculation or malicious reports.

Lee’s reputation suffered a significant blow when the South Korean authorities launched an investigation into his alleged drug use in October.

He spoke briefly to reporters in late October before entering a police station in Incheon to see investigators.

“I sincerely apologise for causing great disappointment to many people by being involved in such an unpleasant incident,” he had said at the time. “I feel sorry for my family, who is enduring such difficult pain at this moment.

“Once again, I sincerely apologise to everyone.”

Infringements of South Korea’s tough drug laws can result in six months in jail, or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers.

In 2023, President Yoon Suk-yeol called for more stringent measures to eliminate drug traffickers, saying the country was no longer “drug-free”.

Once celebrated for his wholesome image, Lee has been reported by local news outlets as being dropped from television and commercial projects following the scandal.

A graduate of South Korea’s prestigious Korea National University of Arts, Lee – who was born in 1975 – made his acting debut in 2001 in a television sitcom titled Lovers.

He later won acclaim for his performances in a variety of roles, including a charismatic chef and a genius neuroscientist who is unable to form empathy towards others.

He received widespread critical acclaim for his performance in the TV drama series My Mister (2018), for his portrayal of a diligent architectural engineer who, despite facing personal turmoil, steadfastly upheld his sense of responsibility as both an adult and a professional.

He was also recognised for his performances in romance productions such as TV drama Coffee Prince (2007) and the film All About My Wife (2012).

Globally, he is best known for his portrayal of the wealthy and shallow patriarch in director Bong Joon-ho’s film Parasite.

In it, Lee played the character of Mr Park, whose affluent home is infiltrated by members of a lower-class family posing as highly qualified domestic workers, in a tangled scheme that ends in violence.

The dark-comedy thriller won the Academy Award in February 2020 in the four categories of best picture, best director, best original screenplay and best international feature film. It had received six Oscar nominations.

The film became the first non-English-language movie to win the best picture award. Bong hailed its popularity as a sign that the “one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles” was no longer a stumbling block to global success.

Lee’s last film, horror flick Sleep (2023) – in which he played a husband whose sleepwalking eventually leads to horrifying circumstances – was well-received critically and featured in the Critics’ Week section at the Cannes Film Festival.

Devastated fans expressed their grief through messages on social media, with one user writing on X, formerly Twitter: “I laughed and cried a lot while watching your acting. Thank you.”

Renowned Korean-American writer Lee Min Jin joined others in expressing their condolences.

“Lee was praiseworthy in Parasite and exceptional in My Mister,” she wrote on Instagram. “May he be remembered for his excellent work and creative gifts.”

Local media reported that media events were postponed following Lee’s death. The online press conference of a new drama series Marry My Husband, which was slated to go live on Dec 27 afternoon, was postponed due to “sudden news in the entertainment industry”, according to South Korean network tvN.

Lee is survived by his wife, actress Jeon Hye-jin, and their two sons. REUTERS, AFP