The esteemed Oscar-winning director and an ensemble of renowned Korean film luminaries will converge on Friday for a press conference, responding to the tragic suicide of an actor who succumbed to the immense pressure of a prolonged police investigation into alleged drug use. This press event in Seoul serves as a call to action, demanding authorities to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the untimely demise of the beloved "Parasite" star, Lee Sun-kyun, who bid farewell to the world at 48 years old.
Prior to his passing, Lee had been ensnared in a weeks-long police probe for suspected illegal drug consumption, allegations he vehemently refuted. The actor maintained his innocence, claiming he was a victim of extortion and that if he had indeed ingested drugs, it was due to deception. Despite undergoing several drug tests and enduring marathon interrogation sessions — one lasting a staggering 19 hours mere days before his death — the South Korean police have yet to find evidence of wrongdoing. His legal representatives revealed that Lee was deeply troubled by the police's handling of the investigation and the leakage of sensitive information to the media, which irreparably damaged his professional reputation.
On Tuesday, a new coalition called the Association of Solidarity Among Cultural Artists emerged, issuing a statement announcing its formation and urging the Korean media and local authorities to collaborate in preventing such tragedies from recurring. The association boasts 29 prestigious arts and culture groups as members, including the prestigious Busan International Film Festival and the Korea Entertainment Producer's Association.
"United by the unwavering conviction that such an incident must never be repeated, we gather in the wake of actor Lee Sun-kyun's tragic demise," the group stated. "We demand a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind Lee's case, request media outlets to retract articles that fail to uphold journalistic integrity, and urge authorities to amend the law to safeguard the human rights of artists."
The press conference on Friday will feature illustrious figures such as the Oscar-winning "Parasite" director, Bong Joon Ho, filmmaker Lee Won-tae, renowned actor Choi Deok-moon, and Choi Jeong-hwa, the head of the Korean Producers Guild. Lee's case has shed international light on South Korea's stringent drug laws, which can lead to imprisonment of up to 14 years, even for citizens using drugs abroad. In late 2022, Korea's right-wing President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a "war on drugs," resulting in a surge in arrests and an intensifying social stigma against users and addicts.
Lee's untimely demise has also sparked renewed discussions on mental health and the immense societal pressures faced by Korea's beloved entertainers. In recent years, several high-profile stars have succumbed to suicide, including singer Kim Jong-hyun in 2017, K-pop icons Sulli and Goo Hara in 2019, and singer Moon Bin in 2023. South Korea holds one of the highest suicide rates among developed nations, with a rate of 26 per 100,000 people in 2021, compared to 15.7 in Japan and 14.1 in the United States. Dubbed "The Voice" by his devoted fans for his distinctive baritone, Lee was best known to Western audiences for his portrayal of Park Dong-ik, the patriarch of the affluent family at the core of Bong's 2019 satirical thriller "Parasite." His performance that year garnered him a Screen Actors Guild Award alongside his fellow cast members. In 2022, Lee received a best actor nomination at the international Emmys for his role in Apple TV+'s groundbreaking Korean-language original series "Dr. Brain," a sci-fi thriller. And just last year, he returned to the Cannes Film Festival, where "Parasite" made history by winning the Palme d'Or in 2019, to support his starring role in Korean director Jason Yu's horror drama feature debut, "Sleep."
