‘Parasite’ Actor Lee Sun-kyun Dies at 48

Wilson Chapman and Erin Strecker
·4 min read
3
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” has died in an apparent suicide, South Korean police told NBC News on December 27. He was 48.

Lee’s body was discovered December 27 by authorities in his car parked on a street in northern Seoul. Police were searching for Lee after his family reported him missing, per NBC News. A cause of death hasn’t officially been ruled upon, but Lee reportedly left a message similar to a suicide note before his disappearance, and a charcoal briquette, commonly used in South Korea to induce suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning, was discovered in the passenger seat.

More from IndieWire

In the U.S., Lee was best known for his work in Bong Joon-Ho’s 2019 class satire “Parasite.” In the film, Lee plays Park Dong-ik, a wealthy man whose family is unknowingly the target of a poorer family’s schemes for employment. “Parasite” was a massive critical success that catapulted its Korean cast to international prominence, and made history as the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2020. Along with the rest of his cast, Lee received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture for his work on “Parasite” that same year.

More recently, he appeared on the Apple TV+ show “Dr. Brain,” a sci-fi thriller and the first Korean-language show produced for Apple TV+. Lee starred as Dr. Sewon Koh, a brain scientist who attempts to solve the mystery of his family’s death by hacking into the deceased’s brains. The series, created by Kim Jee-woon, was based on a webtoon of the same name and premiered in 2021 concurrent with Apple TV+’s launch in Korea. Lee received an International Emmy Award nomination for his work on the show.

In South Korea, Lee began his career with musical theater — he played Brad in a 2001 production of “The Rocky Horror Show” and Danny in a 2003 production of “Grease” — and small TV parts. He broke through on Korean TV in 2007 when he starred in romantic comedy “Coffee Prince” and medical drama “Behind the White Tower.” Other notable credits on TV include “Pasta,” “Golden Time,” and “My Mister.” On film, he starred in 2009’s “Paju,” the 2012 films “Helpless” and “All About My Wife,” and 2014’s “A Hard Day.” He was also known for his collaborations with art-house filmmaker Hong Sang-soo, starring in several of the director’s movies including “Night and Day,” “Lost in the Mountains,” “Oki’s Movie,” “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon,” and “Our Sunhi.”

Prior to his death, the actor appeared in several 2023 projects, including the musical romantic comedy “Killing Romance,” the Cannes Film Festival premieres “Sleep” and “Project Silence,” and the TV thriller “Payback.”

At the time of his death, the actor had been under investigation by South Korean police for allegedly using cannabis and undisclosed psychoactive drugs at the residence of a bar hostess, according to the Associated Press. It was first reported that Lee had been booked for suspected drug use in October. Lee claimed that he was tricked into taking the drugs, and filed a blackmail suit against the hostess and one other undisclosed person. The investigation prompted extensive tabloid coverage in Korea, and he was officially charged on suspicion of drug use by the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency on October 24. During his first summoning for questioning on October 28, Lee publicly apologized to his family. Initial drug tests turned up negative, but the actor was expected to undergo additional tests.

South Korea has some of the strictest drug laws in the world, with potential prison time for drug use ranging from six months to 14 years. According to the AP, the country’s National Police Agency detained roughly 17,150 people this year on alleged drug manufacturing, sales, smuggling, and use charges.

Lee was born in Seoul in 1975. Before beginning his career, he attended the Korea National University of Arts in 1994 and received a BFA as a graduate of the School of Drama.

Lee is survived by his wife, fellow actor Jeon Hye-jin, and their two sons.

Best of IndieWire

Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.