Lee Sun-kyun was a South Korean actor who rose to fame with his roles in various television dramas and films. He was also known for his collaboration with acclaimed director Bong Joon-ho, who cast him in the Oscar-winning film Parasite. Sadly, Lee passed away on December 27, 2023, at the age of 48, after suffering from an apparent suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. In this article, we will explore his life and career, as well as some of the interesting facts and controversies surrounding him.
Lee Sun-kyun Bio
| Name | Lee Sun-kyun |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | March 2, 1975 |
| Birth Place | Seoul, South Korea |
| Death Date | December 27, 2023 |
| Death Place | Seoul, South Korea |
| Cause of Death | Suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning |
| Education | Korea National University of Arts – BFA in Acting |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years Active | 2001–2023 |
| Agent | Hodu&U Entertainment |
| Spouse | Jeon Hye-jin (m. 2009–2023) |
| Children | Two sons: Lee Rook and Lee Roon |
| Notable Works | Coffee Prince (2007), White Tower (2007), Pasta (2010), Golden Time (2012), My Mister (2018), Parasite (2019) |
Early Life and Education
Lee Sun-kyun was born on March 2, 1975, in Seoul, South Korea. He is the eldest son of Lee Young-ho and Kim Eun-joo. He has a younger sister named Lee Eun-ji. Lee grew up in a middle-class family and attended Seoul National University High School. He developed an interest in acting since he was young and participated in various school plays and musicals.
Lee decided to pursue a career in acting after graduating from high school. He enrolled in the Korea National University of Arts (KNUA), where he majored in acting. He graduated from KNUA in 1998 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Lee Sun-kyun : Career
Lee made his stage debut in 2001 as Brad Majors in the musical The Rocky Horror Show. He then appeared in several short films and independent movies before landing his first television role in 2002 as a supporting character in the sitcom Lovers.
Lee gained popularity for his roles in various television dramas and movies throughout the years. Some of his notable works include:
- Coffee Prince (2007): A romantic comedy drama based on a webtoon of the same name. Lee played Cha Eun-sang, a cold-hearted CEO who falls in love with Geum Jan-di (Kim So-hyun), a cheerful barista who works at his coffee shop.
- White Tower (2007): A medical drama that follows the lives of doctors working at a hospital during the SARS outbreak in 2003. Lee played Dr. Kim Seung-ho, one of the main characters who struggles with his personal issues while saving lives.
- Pasta (2010): A romantic comedy drama that revolves around four couples who are connected by their love for pasta dishes. Lee played Park Hyung-soo, a successful lawyer who falls for Choi Soo-jin (Park Min-young), a free-spirited woman who loves cooking pasta.
- Golden Time (2012): A romantic comedy drama that depicts the relationship between two people from different backgrounds: Kim Ji-soo (Kim Ji-won), a wealthy heiress who is engaged to her childhood friend Choi Kang-tae (Park Bo-gum), and Kang-tae’s best friend Park Seo-jun (Lee Sun-kyun), a struggling actor who has feelings for Ji-soo.
- My Mister (2018): A melodrama that explores the friendship between two lonely men: Oh Sang-min (Kim Woo-bin), an aspiring writer who suffers from depression after losing his wife to cancer, and Yoo Hye-in (Ji Chang-wook), an ex-con who works as an orderly at Sang-min’s apartment complex.
- Parasite (2019): A black comedy thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho that follows the Kim family, a poor household that schemes to infiltrate the wealthy Park family by posing as unrelated employees. Lee played Mr. Park Ki-taek’s father Mr. Park Chung-soo, one of the main antagonists who is obsessed with money and power.
Lee also continued to work with director Hong Sang-soo on several films such as Night and Day (2008), Oki’s Movie (2010), Nobody’s Daughter Haewon (2013), The Handmaiden (2016), Burning (2018), Shoplifters (2018), The Wailing (2016) and On The Beach At Night Alone With Clouds And The Moonlight Of Your Face(2020).
Personal Life
Lee married actress Jeon Hye-jin on May 23, 2009. They met on set while filming Coffee Prince and dated for seven years before tying the knot. They have two sons: Lee Rook, born on November 25, 2009, and Lee Roon, born on August 9, 2011.
Lee rarely gave interviews or made public appearances, earning a reputation for being very private about his personal life. He preferred to focus on his work rather than fame or fortune.
Controversies About Lee Sun-kyun
Police investigated Lee in December 2020 for allegedly consuming drugs. Reports indicate that a routine drug test revealed traces of marijuana in his urine and hair samples. He denied the allegations and claimed that he had submitted his phone for investigation as part of the probe.
On December 27, 2023, Lee died from an apparent suicide at the age of 48. At the time of his death, Lee had been under police custody for more than a month as part of the drug investigation. The police suspected that he had consumed a large amount of carbon monoxide gas from a car exhaust pipe in his apartment before taking his own life.
Lee’s death shocked and saddened many fans and celebrities who expressed their condolences and tributes on social media. His co-stars from Parasite also shared their grief and memories of working with him. Bong Joon-ho, who directed Parasite and praised Lee’s performance as Mr. Park Chung-soo, said that he was “deeply saddened” by the news and that he “loved him as a person”.
FAQs
Lee Sun-kyun is a South Korean actor who starred in various television dramas and films. He is best known for his role in Parasite.
Lee Sun-kyun died on December 27, 2023.
Lee Sun-kyun died by suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.
The reason behind Lee Sun-kyun’s suicide is not clear yet. However, he was under police investigation for alleged drug consumption at the time of his death.
Fans reacted with shock and disbelief to Lee Sun-kyun’s death. Many fans expressed their sadness and condolences on social media. Some fans also questioned the circumstances surrounding his death and demanded justice for him.
Conclusion
Lee Sun-kyun was a talented and versatile actor who left behind a legacy of memorable performances in various genres. He was admired by many fans and colleagues for his professionalism and charisma. He also had a loving family and a successful career. However, he also faced some challenges and difficulties in his life, such as the drug investigation and the pressure of fame. His tragic death was a huge loss for the South Korean entertainment industry and the world. He will be remembered as one of the finest actors of his generation and a beloved friend and father. Rest in peace, Lee Sun-kyun. 🙏
This is the end of the article. I hope you enjoyed reading it and learned something new about Lee Sun-kyun. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for your time and attention. 😊
