South Korean actors bid farewell to Lee Suk-kyun after his death

The suicide of actor Lee Suk-kyun, who was under investigation for alleged drug use, is still in the spotlight in South Korea today with funeral celebrations and criticism of the pressure exerted on the translator not only by the authorities, but also in the media and social networks.

Lee’s funeral chapel was set up yesterday at Seoul National University Hospital, and was visited today by numerous film and television actors and artists from the music industry.

Interpretation heavyweights in an Asian country such as Ha Jung-wooSol Kyung-gu, Jung Woo-sung or Lee Jung-jae appeared on burning chapel chaired by Lee’s widow, also an actress Jeon Hye-jin with whom he had two sons.

Lee, 48 years old and who won global fame for his role in the Oscar-winning film “parasites”he was found unconscious in his car on Wednesday with charcoal briquettea product that is fatally toxic if burned in an unventilated area and which unfortunately many South Koreans use for take your own life.

The actor left a message saying he felt devastated by the circumstances that followed investigation about his alleged drug use which began in October and in which he considered that the taking of life “the only solution“.

Lee was investigated on suspicion after consuming marijuana and other drugs such as ketamine in residencehousewife‘(hostess girl) who works at a luxury bar in Seoul on several occasions since the beginning of the year.

The actor passed three examinationsthe last last weekend in which he was interrogated for 19 hours, and he told investigators that his wife cheated on him that consume Substances.

Lee tested negative for drugs on a reagent test he was given during the investigation, as well as a drug test. laboratory made by him National Forensic Service in November.

On Tuesday, the translator submitted a request for a polygraph test to the police department that is conducting the investigation, claiming that he is innocent, and today it became known that the police rejected the request.

The severity with which the police department Incheon City (west of Seoul), in charge of the investigation, which handled her case, was criticized today in the social networks or to the media.

In that sense, own department He admitted today that he did not allow Lee to attend any of his interrogations without having to appear before the media, a right he is effectively guaranteed by South Korean law.

His death also highlights the harshness with which South Korea punishes use of narcotics at a time when the current government has engaged Except for strengthening penalties and prevention after increasing consumption in the Asian country in recent years.

Today, many criticisms are directed at the account of certain media. communication on the Internet either”youtubers“that unverified information started circulating a few months ago and rumours about the case, including the recent release of an alleged call between Lee and a “housewife” that would suggest the two were having an affair relationship.

Likewise, Lee’s suicide once again highlighted the enormous social pressure that exists in South Korea on artiststhose that are needed behavior modeland which in many cases ended with actors or singers taking their own lives because of the enormous demands they see.

“Experts emphasize that deaths by suicide never have a single trigger, but are the result psychological, biological and social factors which have treatment.