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In South Korea, Parasite actor Lee Sun-kyun’s suicide spotlights privacy concerns over drug probes
- Lee’s passing raises questions about privacy and media exposure during police investigations, particularly for public figures
- The actor’s death amid a government-led anti-drug campaign underscores intense scrutiny and public pressure faced by celebrities in South Korea
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The suicide of actor Lee Sun-kyun, famed for his role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, has put the spotlight on growing concerns about the invasion of privacy for individuals under police investigation in South Korea, particularly celebrities.
Lee, 48, was laid to rest on Friday, with his cremated remains placed in a memorial park in Gwangju, 32km southeast of Seoul. He is survived by his wife, actress Jeon Hye-jin, and their two children.
He was found dead in a car in Seoul on Wednesday after weeks of intense police investigation into his alleged drug use.
Police in Incheon City near Seoul summoned Lee three times – on October 28, November 4 and December 23 – and each time he was exposed to a horde of TV camera crews and photographers, despite his requests for privacy.
Lee also had to go through a humiliating “photo op” session each time, a procedure during which the accused is usually made to stand before awaiting media cameras and answers questions for a minute or so.
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