‘Parasite’ director calls for investigation into Lee Sun-kyun’s death

Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, best known for the 2019 Oscar sensation “Parasite,” and the 2013 Chris Evans movie “Snowpiercer,” is calling for an investigation into the death of one of his stars.

In December, “Parasite” star Lee Sun-kyun died at age 48. 

Lee starred as the father of a wealthy family in “Parasite,” which was the first non-English-language movie to win best picture in the Oscars’ 92-year history. It was also the first South Korean movie to win an Academy Award.

Talking to The Post in 2021, Lee said, “It was a total honor for me to be part of such a global hit. It also still feels surreal to me that [‘Parasite’] was such a big hit…but I don’t want to be stuck in the glory of the past, I want to go on with my life. So, I think of it as a really nice adventure that I had.”

Lee was found dead in a car in Seoul after weeks of a police investigation into his alleged drug use.

The car he was found in was reportedly near a charcoal briquette — which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning when burned in an enclosed space.

Earlier in the day, he was reported missing, and his manager told police that he had left behind an apparent suicide note.

Now, a newly formed organization named the Association of Solidarity of Cultural Artists are calling on South Korean officials to continue to investigate Lee’s death. 

“We have all come together under the firm conviction that no such incident should ever take place again, after facing the tragic death of actor Lee Sun-kyun,” the organization said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

“We will call for a probe to discover the truth [of Lee’s death], request media outlets to delete articles that do not fulfill their function as journalism, as well as urge authorities to revise the law to protect the human rights of artists.”

His death comes amid an investigation into his alleged illegal drug use – as South Korea has one of the strictest drug policies in the world. A person found guilty of violating the Asian country’s drug laws can face six months in jail, or 14 years for repeat offenders. 

In connection to his alleged drug use, Lee was questioned three times by police –  including for a marathon 19 hours. 

The actor apologized for “causing immense disappointment” during the first interrogation on Oct. 28. “I am sorry for my family, who are enduring extreme pain at this moment,” he said. 

He was reportedly upset by the way the investigation damaged his career and reputation — since he was dropped by a film project before his death.

He claimed he was the victim of a blackmail plot, and that if he consumed drugs, he’d been tricked into it.  

The late actor was laid to rest at a private funeral in South Korea on Dec. 29. The service took place at Seoul National University Hospital’s funeral home.

Lee’s actress wife, Jeon Hye-jin, appeared devastated as she cried while holding hands with her younger son, as her eldest carried a portrait of his dad.

The organization probing into the death will hold an additional press conference on Friday.