The Life and Legacy of Lee Sun-kyun, the Parasite Star Who Died Too Soon

Lee Sun-kyun was born on March 2, 1975 in Seoul, South Korea. He was interested in acting since he was a child, and participated in various school plays and theater clubs. He majored in theater at the Korea National University of Arts, where he met his future wife, actress Jeon Hye-jin. They married in 2009 and had two sons

Lee started his career in musicals, such as The Rocky Horror Show and Grease, and then moved on to TV dramas. He gained popularity for his roles in romantic comedies, such as Coffee Prince and Pasta, where he showcased his charm and humor. He also proved his versatility by taking on more serious and complex roles in medical dramas, such as White Tower and Golden Time, and crime thrillers, such as A Hard Day and Stranger

Lee made his film debut in 2002, and appeared in more than 30 films throughout his career. He worked with acclaimed directors, such as Hong Sang-soo, Park Chan-wook, and Bong Joon-ho, and received critical praise and awards for his performances. He was best known internationally for his role as Park Dong-ik, the wealthy patriarch of the Park family, in the Oscar-winning film Parasite. He won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, along with the rest of the cast, in 2020

Some of the lesser-known facts about Lee are

He was an avid reader and collector of books. He had a personal library of more than 10,000 books in his home, and often donated books to schools and libraries. He also hosted a radio show called Audio Book Club, where he introduced and read books to the listeners

He was a talented singer and musician. He released two albums, one in 2009 and another in 2011, and sang several OST songs for his dramas and films. He played the guitar, piano, and harmonica, and often performed at live concerts and events. He also composed and produced songs for other artists, such as IU and Kim Feel

He was a devoted father and husband. He often expressed his love and gratitude for his family, and said that they were his source of happiness and strength. He enjoyed spending time with his children, and taught them various skills, such as swimming, skiing, and chess. He also supported his wife’s career, and appeared in several projects with her, such as the film My Wife Got Married and the drama My Mister

Lee’s life and career came to a tragic end on December 27, 2023, when he was found dead in his car near a park in Seoul. He was 48 years old. He had been under investigation for alleged drug use since October, when a hostess at a bar accused him of taking marijuana and ketamine with her. He denied the allegations, and said that he was unaware of the drugs. He underwent several rounds of questioning and drug tests, but was never charged. He apologized to the public and his fans for causing disappointment and trouble, and said that he would cooperate with the investigation

The news of his death shocked and saddened the nation and the world. His family, friends, and colleagues mourned him in a private funeral, and asked the media and the public to respect their privacy and grief. Many fans and celebrities paid tribute to him online and offline, and remembered him as one of the most talented and beloved actors in Korean cinema