Tragic ‘Parasite’ star Lee Sun-kyun reportedly begged police not to announce his last appearance for questioning over an alleged blackmail plot days before his apparent suicide.
Tragic ‘Parasite’ star Lee Sun-kyun reportedly begged police not to announce his last appearance for questioning over an alleged blackmail plot days before his apparent suicide
The actor, best known for his role as Park Dong-ik in director Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 Oscar-winning film about a down-on-their-luck family, was found dead in his car aged 48 on 27 December at Waryong Park in South Korea’s capital of Seoul, where his funeral was held on Friday. (29.12.23)
His death came as police were quizzing him over allegations of illegal drug use, accused of using marijuana and other substances at the home of a hostess from a local bar – though Lee insisted she had tricked him into taking the drugs and he had no idea what he was taking, and insisted she had tried to blackmail him.
It has now been reported by the Daily Mail Lee’s lawyer asked police to close the latest questioning round over the incident on Saturday (23.12.23) to the media, but police rejected the request.
The Mail said the request was disclosed by police officials and legal sources.
Lee’s lawyer said on Tuesday (26.12.23), a day before the actor’s body was found, he hoped any future interrogation would be conducted behind closed doors.
He added his client felt “burdened” by appearing in public settings to discuss the allegations, which could have ended in jail time and a huge fine for Lee due to South Korea’s ultra-strict laws on drug use.
Lee’s shock death has sparked a defence from South Korean police over their intense interrogations of the ‘Parasite’ actor in the months before his death.
South Korean police chief Kim Hui-jung insisted the measures were justified and carried out with the actor’s consent to ensure that his side of the story was heard.
He said: “The investigation of the deceased was conducted based on specific reports, testimony and evidence and under legally prescribed procedures.”
Kim also expressed “deep regret” over the actor’s death and offered his condolences to his family.
Between December 23 and 24, police interviewed Lee for 19 hours, though drug tests returned negative or inconclusive results, according to local media.
Lee was discovered dead on Wednesday after “writing a memo akin to a suicide note”, cops told the Yonhap news agency.