Lee was found unconscious Wednesday morning, according to a police spokesman, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Local media reported that he was found in his car, near a park in Seoul, and had apparently died by suicide.
The actor had been questioned on suspicion of using marijuana and other illegal drugs at the home of a woman who worked at an exclusive bar in Seoul’s Gangnam district, Yonhap News Agency reported. Lee said the woman had tricked him into taking the drugs.
Lee starred in numerous South Korean films and television series since his debut in 1999, but he enjoyed global acclaim with his role in “Parasite.”
“Parasite” won numerous awards after its release in 2019, including the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and four Oscars at the Academy Awards the following year, among them one for best picture.
South Korea’s entertainment industry has been rocked by a spate of drug abuse scandals, with K-pop singers and movie stars facing police scrutiny. The country has tough drug laws, and offenders can be punished by up to 14 years in prison.
- If you or someone you know needs help, visit 988lifeline.org or call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
