The death of actor Lee Sung-kyun, known for his role in the film “Parasites”, has sparked a wave of criticism in South Korea against the media and police, accused of fueling the toxic climate surrounding the fight against drugs, News reports. ro with a link to AFP.

The 48-year-old actor’s lifeless body was found in his car in Seoul on Wednesday along with a note that looked like a will, Yonhap news agency reported.

He was the subject of an investigation opened by the authorities in October for the alleged use of cannabis and other psychotropic drugs.

In a country where such matters are very strict, the scandal tarnished his image, stripping him of advertising contracts and appearances on television and in cinemas, costing the South Korean press ten billion won (7 million euros).

At the same time, experts complained about the lack of presumption of innocence, which created an unhealthy atmosphere due to the sensational coverage of the case, fueled by the broadcast of some elements of the investigation.

“This is a social crime”

Police are suspected of involvement in the leak of confidential material, such as audio fragments of private phone conversations.

In addition to media pressure, Lee Sung-gyun was forced to submit to police interrogations: the last one, a few days before his death, lasted 19 hours.

“In South Korea, at a much higher level than in any European country, which tolerates the consumption of psychotropic drugs better, being a suspect in a drug case is tantamount to self-punishment, public ostracism,” Volodymyr Tikhonov explained to AFP. , professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.

This is a “social crime,” fumed Yoo Hyun-jae, a communications professor at Seoul’s Sogang University, who pointed to the joint responsibility of the media, the police and the public for the “great humiliation” the actor suffered.

Incheon Police Chief Kim Hui-jung on Thursday defended his team, which conducted the investigation “in accordance with legal procedures” without releasing any information to the media.

Grieving fans

The news of the star actor’s sudden death caused quite a stir. His wife, actress Jung Hye Jin, and their two sons, along with other names from Korean cinema, attended a private ceremony at a hospital in Seoul on Friday.

“Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho visited the funeral home on Thursday, where grieving fans left messages of condolence.

They read: “The works you have created with your hard work and sincerity have saved so many people,” “We are sorry that we could not do anything for you when you were going through a difficult time.”

Several entertainment events in South Korea have been canceled to honor the memory of the actor.

Scandals in Gangnam

South Korea has adopted a “zero tolerance” policy, and current President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a “war on drugs” when he came to power.

Various drug and entertainment scandals point to the trendy Gangnam district, home to nightclubs and cosmetic surgery clinics.

Lee Sung-kyung was suspected of consuming illegal substances at a posh bar in this area of ​​the capital, Seoul. He denied knowingly using the products and claimed he was “tricked” by the woman against whom he filed a blackmail and extortion complaint, Yonhap reported.

The actor recently passed two drug tests, all of which came back negative, according to a South Korean news agency.

Police announced Friday that they had referred a plastic surgeon who practiced in Gangnam to prosecutors for allegedly supplying illegal drugs to a bar woman involved in the case.

Ketamine, one of the drugs allegedly used by Lee, was also implicated in the Burning Sun nightclub scandal in Gangnam, which was run by the K-Pop star, who was jailed for, among other things, offering women for sex to potential investors .

This year, a man was sentenced to life in prison for masterminding the kidnapping and murder of a woman amid the collapse of the cryptocurrency and ketamine markets — the weapon the killer used was obtained through his wife, a plastic surgery assistant. clinic.