SEOUL - Lee Sun-kyun, the acclaimed South Korean actor best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film "Parasite," was found dead in his car in Seoul on Wednesday. He was 48 years old.
Emergency responders first discovered Lee unconscious in a vehicle parked on a street in northern Seoul, authorities stated. He was later officially pronounced dead at the scene.
Lee's family had filed a missing persons report earlier that day. South Korean media reported the family also submitted a letter from Lee that sounded like a suicide note.
Police say the investigation into his death is ongoing but they believe Lee took his own life. The actor had been struggling lately amid allegations of illegal drug use, which he claimed he was tricked into taking unknowingly.
Lee skyrocketed to international fame for his performance as the wealthy patriarch in Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite," which made history as the first foreign language film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2020. Lee himself was renowned in South Korea for over a decade for hit movies and TV dramas.
His sudden passing at a young age has shocked fans around the world. Lee is survived by his wife, actress Jeon Hye-jin, and their two sons. Many are mourning the loss of an exceptional talent gone too soon.