Lee Sun-Kyun’s Suicide Note Addressed to His Wife and Agency Possibly Linked to the Drug Investigation
The prevalence of news surrounding drug abuse has been increasingly noticeable in South Korea lately.
In the wake of the widely publicised airport incident involving G-Dragon, it’s evident that the investigation into drug abuse has intensified and is still ongoing, particularly focusing on the renowned Parasite actor, Lee Sun-kyun.
Lee Sun-kyun, the acclaimed South Korean actor celebrated for his role in the Oscar-winning movie Parasite, was tragically found dead on 27 Dec, just yesterday.
His lifeless body was discovered inside his car, which was parked in a roadside lot in Seongbuk District, Seoul.
According to Auto Tribune Korea, the police have confirmed finding traces of burnt charcoal inside the vehicle, a detail that points towards a possible cause of death.
Almost as if anticipating this tragic event, Lee Sun-kyun’s wife contacted the police at 9:12 am, and astonishingly, within just over an hour, an internet forum in South Korea announced Lee Sun-kyun’s death.
Suicide Note to His Wife and Agency
On the fateful day of 27 Dec, Jeon Hye-jin, Lee Sun-kyun’s wife, informed the police that Lee had left their home after penning a suicide note.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2009, have an eldest son who is currently 14 years old.
Parts of Lee’s heart-wrenching suicide note were released by the South Korean police, according to Lianhe Zaobao.
In it, he conveyed apologies to his wife, family, and parents, expressing his wish for all memories of him to fade away.
He lamented, “I’m sorry for being remembered this way,” yearning for oblivion towards himself so that his family would not endure further suffering.
In the note, he referred to his wife as his lifelong love and entrusted her with handling his estate matters.
The content of the note starkly revealed Lee’s firm resolve to end his life and the profound sorrow engulfing him.
While on the other hand, the brief yet poignant texts also exposed the depths of torment and despair he was experiencing.
To his wife, he wrote, “there’s no other choice but this (suicide),” and to his management company, “I’m sorry, the compensation for ads and movies is too much.”
This hinted at his fears that if his involvement in drugs was proven, his acting career would be doomed, and the investors of his projects and advertising sponsors would demand enormous compensations.
Lee had been called in for drug testing three times within the past two months but was found dead in his car while the investigation was still active.
Imagine all the stress he must have been under with the ongoing investigations.
He faced multiple interrogations by the police, during which he maintained his innocence.
He claimed he was deceived into taking drugs and blackmailed, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Additionally, the authorities had imposed a travel ban on Lee, preventing him from leaving the country while the investigation continued.
Interestingly, preliminary analysis of hair samples taken from Lee showed no signs of drug use.
Auto Tribune Korea reports that he underwent a gruelling 19-hour investigation at the police station on 23 Dec.
He had even requested a lie detector test from the police, insisting he was unaware of the fact that what he consumed was a drug.
Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, in response to the sudden demise of actor Lee Sun-kyun , vehemently criticised the investigative methods employed by the prosecution and police, according to Munhwa News.
He stated that there are many who have resorted to suicide while under investigation by the authorities.
Former Minister Cho articulated that the prosecution and police wield immense ‘legal violence’ in their normal operations.
Those targeted by this power often experience severe mental breakdowns.
He also accused the media of exacerbating the situation by engaging in ridicule, slander, and insult.
Particularly, Cho condemned the practice of leaking unconfirmed suspicions to the media, which then contributes to the social condemnation of the accused.
Lee Sun-Kyun’s wake was revealed to be held yesterday, amidst a sea of flowers, at the Seoul National University Hospital auditorium.
The funeral is scheduled for 29 Dec, tomorrow, with the burial to take place in Boseong-gun, Jeollabuk-do.