Before we begin this article, we would like to extend our sincerest condolences to Lee Sun-kyun’s family, friends, and colleagues.
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun’s abrupt death on December 27, 2023, has once again cast another shadow on South Korea’s entertainment industry.
The actor was 48 years old and was known internationally for his role in the Academy Award-winning film “Parasite” (2019) by Bong Joon-ho. Alongside the cast of “Parasite”, had received the SAG Award for “Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture” in 2020. In 2022, he received a nomination for an International Emmy Award 2022 for his role in the web series “Dr. Brain.” In 2010, Lee Sun-kyun received the “Best Actor” award for his role in the 2009 movie “Paju” at the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival.
Domestically, his roles in the Korean dramas “Coffee Prince” and “Behind the White Tower” (2007) had propelled his popularity in the mainstream media. His other acclaimed roles in K-Dramas were in “Pasta” (2010), “Golden Time” (2012), and “My Mister” (2018).
South Korean society has always placed public figures and celebrities in the highest of regards—unintentionally placing pressure on anyone daring to become one to have the cleanest of track records. That is to say, one minor mistake in the past, if found out, can most often lead to the biggest of tragedies in South Korea.
The death of the beloved actor definitely struck a chord in South Korean society, especially with his passing coming at a time when there has been a rise in the untimely deaths of celebrities, especially K-pop idols.
Particularly, according to CNN’s Tara Subramaniam and Yoonjung Seo, it had once again “reignited conversations about the mental well-being of South Korean celebrities and public figures, casting a spotlight on the pressures they face in the competitive and stressful Korean entertainment industry and the pitfalls for those deemed to have made transgressions.”
In light of this, big names in the South Korean entertainment industry are now demanding the police for a detailed explanation of its handling of the late actor’s alleged drug use case.
These names include internationally acclaimed director Bong Joon-ho, who worked closely with Lee Sun-kyun for “Parasite” (2019), singer Yoon Jong-shin, Producers Guild of Korea head Choi Jeong-hwa, actor Choi Deok-moon, and Director Lee Won-tae.
The Cultural and Artistic Professionals Conference (CAPC), an organization consisting of 29 associations and guilds in the South Korean entertainment industry, is set to hold a press conference on Friday, January 12, 2024. “We have all come together under the firm belief that no such incident should ever take place again, after facing the unfortunate death of actor Lee Sun-kyun,” said the CAPC in its press release.
The press release also urged authorities to investigate further, urged the media to retract articles that fail to uphold journalistic standards, and pushed for more amendments to protect the human rights of celebrities in the culture and entertainment industry.
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