South Korean actor Lee Sun Kyun is being remembered today on the first anniversary of his passing.
Lee Sun Kyun tragically passed away on December 27, 2023, after being found unconscious in a vehicle parked on a roadside in Seongbuk-gu.
In October 2023, Lee faced allegations of drug use, but initial screening tests and a detailed physical examination returned negative results. On December 27, 2023, he was discovered unconscious, and fire authorities estimated that he passed away on the same day.
The sudden news of his death prompted an outpouring of grief from the film industry. In January 2024, a coalition of 29 cultural and artistic organizations, known as the Cultural Artists Solidarity Conference, released a statement titled “The Demands of Cultural Artists Facing the Death of Actor Lee Sun Kyun.” In October, the 29th Busan International Film Festival held a special commemorative program in his honor.
Born in 1975, Lee debuted in 1999, appearing in the music video for “It’s Alright” by singer Bijou. He later gained recognition through the MBC sitcom Lovers and expanded his career with performances in one-act dramas such as Dr. Love, Translucent, Romance, and The Way a Woman on the Street Loves. His breakout came with the 2007 drama The Behind the White Tower, establishing him as a prominent actor. He starred in successful series like Coffee Prince, Pasta, and Golden Time, cementing his popularity. More recently, he appeared in My Mister, Diary of a Prosecutor, and Dr. Brain earlier this year in Payback.
Lee also shone on the big screen, appearing in films such as Paju, Oki’s Movie, Petty Romance, Helpless, All About My Wife, and A Hard Day. In 2019, he gained international acclaim for his role in Bong Joon Ho’s film Parasite, which was invited to the Cannes Film Festival. His final films, Escape: Project Silence and Land of Happiness, were released this past summer.