A group of South Korean filmmakers, artists, and entertainment companies have banded in the aftermath of actor Lee Sun-Kyun’s death, calling for an investigation into the circumstances that drove the Parasite star to suicide in late December.
The Association of Solidarity Among Cultural Artists — which includes Parasite director Bong Joon-ho, filmmaker Lee Won-tae, actor Choi Deok-moon, singer Yoon Jong-shin, and dozens more — issued a statement prior to a planned Friday press conference in Seoul, where they would ask authorities to look into what happened in Lee’s death in order to avoid future incidents.
“In the face of the tragic death of actor Lee Sun-kyun, we shared the same heart that this should never happen again,” the newly established group said (via The Korea Herald). “We will call for investigation officials’ probe to discover the truth, request media outlets to delete articles that do not fit their function as media, as well as urge authorities to revise the law to protect the human rights of artists.”
Prior to his December 27 death at the age of 48, Lee had been under investigation as part of a probe into illegal drug use; South Korea, amid a “war on drugs,” has very strict drug laws where citizens can be charged for use both domestically or abroad, and penalties can run between six months to 14 years in prison.
The actor had been questioned multiple times by police since October and repeatedly denied the charges both in private interrogations and in public statements. He also claimed he was being blackmailed by another person caught up in the probe.
On the week of his death, Lee underwent a 19-hour interrogation and later told reporters, “I ask that the police make a good judgment about whose side’s statements are credible between me and the blackmailers.”
Lee’s body was found in a parked car soon after his manager reported him missing; a suicide note was also found.
Following the Oscar-winning success of Parasite, Lee was tapped for AppleTV+’s first Korean-language show, the sci-fi thriller Dr. Brain.
