'Parasite' director slams police, S Korean media over star's death

SEOUL

Oscar-winning "Parasite" filmmaker Bong Joon-ho and other South Korean stars called for an investigation on Friday into police and media conduct in the days leading to actor Lee Sun-kyun's death.

Lee, best known globally for his starring role in Bong's 2019 film "Parasite", was found dead in a car in Seoul last month, after a two-month police investigation over suspected drug use.

Following his death, police were accused of leaking confidential details of their probe, triggering frenzied mainstream media coverage and a flurry of damaging social media content on YouTube and beyond.

"We urge a thorough investigation by the authorities to ascertain whether there were any lapses in police investigative security," Bong said Friday at a press conference attended by South Korean cineastes and industry figures.

He added officials should also examine "whether any unauthorised disclosures" originated from police officers involved in the Lee drugs investigation improperly communicating with the media.

Bong was reading a statement, signed by around 30 organisations in South Korea's booming entertainment industry, including film festivals, actors' unions, and the local screenwriters' guild.

Actor Kim Eui-sung, who was also at the press event Friday, said Lee's death was due to a "character assassination."

"I hope that such tragedies will never be repeated in the investigation of pop culture artists," he said.

Once celebrated for his wholesome image, Lee's reputation suffered a significant blow when news of the police drugs probe became public in October.

He was quickly dropped from television, film and commercial projects, incurring damages media reports estimated at up to 10 billion won ($7.8 million).

 'Responsible reporting' 

Bong and others called for strengthened legislation to better protect artists and entertainers, and urged the media to do better in future.

They specifically singled out South Korea's national broadcaster KBS for their coverage of the case. In November, KBS released audio recordings purportedly of Lee's private phone conversations.

"Can KBS promise... their coverage on the private conversations of the deceased, unrelated to the allegations, was solely for the sake of the public's right to know?" the joint statement said.

"We urge all media outlets, including KBS, to promptly remove any content that does not align with the purpose of responsible reporting," it added.

Lee had tested negative for drugs twice, during police investigations and in a lab test in November, according to the Yonhap news agency.

He had also sat for three lengthy sessions of police questioning, with the last one starting Dec. 23 lasting for 19 hours. Lee's body was found Dec. 27.

Incheon Metropolitan Police chief Kim Hui-jung said last month that the "entire investigation process" was carried out "in accordance with legal procedures" and that no leaks had occurred.

South Korea has extremely strict drug laws, and public opinion is typically supportive of police probes into illegal use and critical of people found to be breaking the law.

But since Lee's death, criticism of police and media treatment of the late star has erupted online.