Parasite actor Lee Sun-kyun found dead in Seoul

Lee Sun-kyun, the Korean actor best known for his role as the rich family’s patriarch in 2019’s Parasite, has died at the age of 48.

Lee Sun-kyun was acclaimed in various roles and performances in South Korea after making his debut in a TV sitcom in 2001. Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite was where he first saw widespread international success, and he has since starred in AppleTV’s first Korean-language TV series.

According to The Guardian, his body was found in a parking lot in downtown Seoul after his wife found a suicide bill. Lee Sun-kyun had reportedly struggled with drug abuse, and in South Korea the laws are much stricter for drug abuse, with those found guilty potentially facing up to 14 years in prison.