Actor Lee Sun-kyun Found Dead Amid Drug Investigation

Death shines a spotlight on South Korea's strict anti-drug policies and pressures faced by celebrities.

South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the Academy Award-winning film 'Parasite', was found dead in an apparent suicide following a 19-hour police interrogation over accusations of drug use.
Lee's death has highlighted South Korea's strict anti-drug policies and attitudes, which have been criticized for focusing too much on punishment rather than rehabilitation.
Drug-related arrests in South Korea have surged in recent years, with a sixfold increase in teen arrests, but it is unclear whether this represents an actual spike in drug use or is due to intensified enforcement.
Lee's death has also drawn attention to the pressures of fame and constant media surveillance faced by South Korean celebrities, with several high-profile suicides in the past five years.
Lee was in the midst of filming a second season of his Apple TV+ show 'Dr. Brain' before the fallout from the police investigation halted his career.