Police hand over 5 suspects to prosecution as Lee Sun-kyun drug investigation ends

The high-profile investigation into the late actor Lee Sun-kyun’s alleged drug use has effectively concluded, with police saying no further investigation will be conducted.

Actor Lee Sun-kyun arrives at the Incheon Nonhyeon Police Station on Dec. 23, 2023, for his third summons and questioning. [NEWS1]

The high-profile investigation into the late actor Lee Sun-kyun’s alleged drug use has effectively concluded, with police saying no further investigation will be conducted.

Of the 11 suspects under investigation, including a chaebol scion, police handed over five to the prosecution, according to local media reports Thursday citing legal and police sources.

The five include a 29-year-old former actress identified by her surname Park, who is accused of blackmailing and taking some 50 million won ($37,000) from Lee, a 30-year-old bar hostess identified by her surname Kim, accused of extracting 300 million won from the late actor, and a doctor suspected of supplying drugs to the bar hostess. The actress Park and hostess Kim reportedly became acquainted while serving prison terms together.

Both Park and Kim have been detained and indicted on charges of blackmailing the late actor in January.

The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency told the local press that no further investigation will be conducted and that the investigation results concerning the remaining six suspects will not be revealed.

Among the six remaining suspects, the chaebol scion has reportedly been transferred to another police precinct, while the police decided not to refer some of the others to the prosecution.

Incheon police opened a case on Oct. 24 last year following a media report surrounding the late actor’s alleged drug use. Lee, 48, tested negative in both the initial reagent test conducted by the police and a lab-based drug test conducted by the National Forensic Service.

He was found dead while under investigation, in an apparent suicide at a park in central Seoul on Dec. 27 last year.

The actor died four days after his third summons. Before his death, Lee had requested a polygraph test from the Incheon police to prove his innocence.

Public criticism of the police grew after reports emerged that Lee, through his attorney, had requested his third summons to be held behind closed doors, a request that was denied.

In March, a senior police official from the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency also admitted to leaking information about the drug investigation, including details about people allegedly involved in Lee’s drug allegations.

Lee rose to global fame for his lead role in the Oscar-winning 2019 film “Parasite.” He debuted in 2001 through an MBC sitcom and is famed for his roles in multiple Korean films and dramas, such as "All About My Wife" (2012), "A Hard Day" (2014), "My Mister" (2018) and "Kingmaker" (2022).

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]