Push Admin

S. Korea police defends drug probe of 'Parasite' actor; film director pays respects at wake

Article (news)

Reuters 

<p>The questioning of South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun on three separate occasions was justified and done with his consent, a police district chief said on Thursday. </p><p>Lee’s body was <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/12/27/23/parasite-actor-lee-sun-kyun-found-dead-report">found </a>in a car at a park in Seoul on Wednesday, after he was reported missing amid a drug probe.</p><p>At a news briefing on Thursday, Incheon Metropolitan Police chief Kim Hui-jung expressed his condolences and &quot;deep regret&quot; over Lee&#x27;s death, but added that the investigation, including one questioning which lasted 19 hours, was necessary to thoroughly hear out his side of the case and was done in the presence of Lee’s lawyer.</p><p>&quot;The investigation of the deceased was conducted based on specific reports, testimony and evidence and under legally prescribed procedures,&quot; Kim said.</p><p>Lee had denied that he knowingly took illegal drugs and said he was tricked into doing so by a bar hostess who was trying to blackmail him, local news media reported before his death.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/10/23/23/parasite-star-lee-sun-kyun-embroiled-in-drug-controversy">&#x27;Parasite&#x27; star Lee Sun-kyun faces drug use allegations: reports</a></li></ul><p>The 48-year-old actor, who played the wealthy patriarch in the Oscar-winning film &quot;Parasite&quot;, had undergone three police questionings since October. The last interrogation on Dec. 23 went on through the night, and saw him leaving the police station early on Christmas eve.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/11/22/23/bong-joon-hos-secret-debut-unearthed-by-new-docu">Bong Joon-ho&#x27;s secret debut unearthed by new documentary</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/10/20/parasite-wins-oscar-for-best-international-feature-film">&#x27;Parasite&#x27; wins Oscar for best international feature film</a></li></ul><div> </div><p>Film industry colleagues have been visiting the memorial set up at Lee&#x27;s wake, including Parasite’s director Bong Joon-ho and the Netflix hit series &quot;Squid Game&quot; actor Lee Jung-jae.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/11/22/23/bong-joon-hos-secret-debut-unearthed-by-new-docu">Bong Joon-ho&#x27;s secret debut unearthed by new documentary</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/movies/02/16/23/the-tradition-and-future-of-south-korean-cinema">The tradition and future of South Korean cinema</a></li></ul><div><em>For more news and features on K-pop, K-drama, and K-stars, visit the <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/kcontents">Hallyu Corner </a>microsite.</em><br/> </div><div><em>(Production: Daewoung Kim, Jiming Jung, Heejung Jung) </em></div>

 The questioning of South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun on three separate occasions was justified and done with his consent, a police district chief said.