Police official arrested for allegedly leaking info on late actor Lee Sun-kyun

The Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency’s anti-corruption crime investigation team arrested a senior-level police official belonging to the Incheon Police Agency Thursday morning, according to investigative authorities the same day.

Actor Lee Sun-kyun's funeral altar is set up at the Seoul National University Hospital's funeral home in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Dec. 27, 2023. [NEWS1]

An Incheon Police Agency official who allegedly leaked information on the investigation into late actor Lee Sun-kyun was arrested Thursday.

The Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency’s anti-corruption crime investigation team arrested a senior-level police official belonging to the Incheon Police Agency Thursday morning, according to investigative authorities the same day.

The official is suspected of leaking documents detailing the then-ongoing investigation into Lee to outside sources.

The police also raided the Incheon Police Agency for a second time after a first raid on Jan. 22 on the drug crime investigation unit of the agency.

Lee, known globally for his roles in many hit films and dramas, including the 2019 Oscar-winning “Parasite,” died by apparent suicide on Dec. 27 last year amid an investigation into alleged illegal drug use.

Director Bong Joon-ho and leading entertainment industry professionals have called for a probe into the police investigations on Lee to discover “whether any unauthorized disclosures or improper response occurred during the investigation.”

Lee’s name was first leaked to the media during the police’s internal investigation in October last year, and the actor completed three rounds of police questioning between October and December, with the last questioning lasting 19 hours just three days before his death.

According to the police’s internal regulations regarding informing the public about an ongoing investigation, police may not notify the press that a suspect is appearing for questioning, nor can the media photograph suspects appearing for questioning. However, the dates of Lee’s appearance before the police were leaked to the press, and photographs were extensively taken of the actor upon his appearance at the Incheon Police Agency.

If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed or struggling with thoughts of suicide, LifeLine Korea can be contacted at 1588-9191 or the Crisis Counseling Center at 1577-0199. The Seoul Global Center offers English-language counseling, contact 02-2075-4180 (+1) to arrange a session. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]