SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Oscar-winning “ Parasite ” director Bong Joon-ho and different artists in South Korea have known as for an intensive investigation into the loss of life of fashionable actor Lee Solar-kyun, who performed the pinnacle of a rich household within the class satire film.
Lee, 48, was discovered useless in his automotive on Dec. 27 in what’s broadly seen as a suicide following an intense weekslong police investigation into his alleged drug use.
In a nationally televised information convention on Friday, Bong and different artists, writers, performers and producers questioned why police repeatedly summoned Lee within the presence of TV cameras and whether or not they had inappropriately leaked details about the investigation to media. Additionally they questioned whether or not media shops had overly sensationalized stories about Lee’s non-public life that have been unrelated to the drug investigation.
“We urge related officers to totally examine whether or not there have been any issues with the safety of (the knowledge) within the police investigation,” they mentioned in a press release.
They mentioned Lee had suffered “extreme character assassination” earlier than his loss of life, and known as for revisions of legal guidelines to guard human rights in legal investigations.
Police had been investigating allegations that Lee used unlawful medicine on the residence of a bar hostess. Lee insisted he was tricked into taking the medicine and that he didn’t know what they have been, in response to South Korean media.
The investigation prompted intensive tabloid protection of Lee and unconfirmed on-line rumors about his non-public life. Lee filed a go well with towards two folks together with the hostess, alleging they blackmailed him.
“Parasite” received Oscars for greatest image and three different classes in 2020. It was the primary non-English-language movie to win greatest image within the historical past of the Academy Awards and was the primary South Korean film to win an Oscar.
Lee, who had been a well-liked actor in South Korea for a very long time, was nominated for greatest actor on the Worldwide Emmy Awards for his efficiency within the sci-fi thriller “Dr. Mind” final 12 months.
South Korea has strict anti-drug legal guidelines and has lengthy had the best suicide fee amongst developed international locations. It has skilled a string of celeb suicides involving Ok-pop stars, outstanding politicians and enterprise executives. Most of the celeb suicides have been blamed on malicious and abusive on-line feedback and extreme cyberbullying.