Bong Joon Ho, the director of the movie “Parasite”, held a press conference at the Korean Press Center in the central business district of Seoul, yesterday, Friday, and the Oscar-winning director launched a sharp attack on police officials and the media, accusing them of causing the actor’s death. Lee Sun Kyun, the film’s hero, committed suicide at the end of last December.
Bong Joon-ho called for an investigation into the police’s methods, and demanded that the media refrain from sensationalist coverage, which may have contributed to Lee’s decision to commit suicide. The South Korean director singled out the South Korean Broadcasting Corporation for more severe criticism than others.
solidarity
Actor Lee Sun-kyun, who played the lead role in the movie “Parasite”, was arrested and investigated by the police for possible drug use. He was subjected to a torrent of media and press comments, and on social media during the two months prior to his death.
Director Bong Joon calls for an investigation into the death of actor Lee Sun Kyun (Reuters)
A large group of artists, cultural organizations and trade associations announced their solidarity with the director, and a spokesman for the director Bong Joon’s supporters told Variety magazine, saying, “There is a need for clear legislative improvements to ensure that police powers are not used arbitrarily against suspects. We need the investigative authorities to take responsibility,” And not to interpret or apply the intent of the law arbitrarily.”
Today, Saturday, the same group issued a statement entitled “Demands of artists and cultural workers in the face of the death of the late actor Lee Sun Kyun.” In light of the mounting criticism of the actors, the police issued a statement in which they denied accusations of negligence or the involvement of any of its members in unusual behavior that resulted in exposure. The late representative of the lobby, but speakers at the press conference did not accept that denial.
A representative of the Korean Producers Guild and a spokesman for the Independent Film Association spoke at the press conference, along with a number of officials from Korean distribution companies. The speakers’ demands were that such a tragedy not be repeated again in the investigation process with artists.
A number of speakers called for an investigation into the police’s behavior with the late actor, and to verify the details, especially during the investigation with the late actor, which was repeated more than once.
The “Parasite” hero was subjected to interrogation 3 times, and was forced to make a statement to the media and confess in front of the cameras. He was photographed the three times during the investigation and broadcasting the investigations, and the drug test was conducted live for the media. The third interrogation took about 19 hours. Lee Sun Kyun made the decision Suicide afterwards.
The South Korean actor was found dead on Wednesday morning, December 27, 2023, and the South Korean Yonhap News Agency said that “Lee Soon” (48 years old) “was found unconscious in a car in a park in central Seoul, after his wife informed the police that he had died. He left the house, and I found what appeared to be a suicide note.”
The police were investigating Lee Sun on suspicion of using marijuana and other illegal drugs at the home of a hostess who works in an upscale bar in the Gangnam district of the capital, Seoul, on several occasions since the beginning of the year, the most recent of which was last Saturday.
According to the agency, “The actor claimed that he was deceived and attempted to blackmail by the flight attendant, and that he did not know what he was eating.”
South Korea has strict drug laws, and drug crimes are usually punished by at least 6 months in prison, or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and trafficking.
Barasite
“Parasite” is a 2019 South Korean black comedy film, directed by Bong Joon Ho, and starring Song Kang Ho, Lee Sun Kyun, Cho Yoo Jung, and others.
The film received critical acclaim, winning the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, and becoming the first South Korean film to receive this award. It also won the Academy Award at the 92nd session of the festival in 2020 as best foreign film, and it is the first non-English-speaking film to win the award. It won the Best Adapted Screenplay award, and its director, Bong Joon Ho, won the Best Director award.
Lee Sun Kyun in a scene from the movie “Helpless” (IMDP)
The late actor Lee Sun-kyun appeared at the Cannes Film Festival last year in the films “Project Silence” and “Sleep,” which were commercially released last September and topped the Korean box office charts for 3 weeks.
Lee starred in the critically acclaimed film “Killing Romance”, which opened the 2023 New York Asian Film Festival, and his political drama “Kingmaker” was also screened at the festival.
