Photo: Kinocine · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Born in South Korea · Nationality South Korean — Culture / cinema / television

Lee Sun-kyun

Documented profile covering 4 controversies, including “2023 drug-use investigation: public questioning, negative tests and no decision before his death” and “Extortion of 350 million won: Lee was the victim of two women subsequently convicted”.

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Profile No. 0368 · Updated on 12 October 2026

4Documented controversies

5Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2023–2024

Extortion of 350 million won: Lee was the victim of two women subsequently convicted

Conviction — against a third party

Protagonist is the victim — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

During the drug investigation, Lee reported being a victim of extortion and having paid approximately 350 million won in total. In December 2024, a bar manager and a former actress were sentenced to three and a half years and four years and two months' imprisonment respectively for the money extorted.

Attribution: Protagonist is the victim
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist is the victim

Sources · 1

[1]
Korea JoongAng DailyBar hostess, former actor sentenced to prison over extorting late actor Lee Sun-kyunMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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2023-12–2024

After his death, nationwide controversy over public summonses, media pressure and handling of the investigation

Investigation

Following Lee's death, filmmakers and actors called for an investigation into the police and media handling of the case. Police opened an internal review of their conduct, after it emerged that Lee's request to avoid another highly publicised appearance had been refused.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Institutional responsibility

Sources · 1

[1]
YonhapPolice looking into handling of drug probe into late actor LeeMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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2024-03/07

Leaks of investigation information: police officer admits leak and two public officials referred to prosecutors

Investigation — against a third party

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

A separate investigation established that a police officer had provided a media outlet with an internal report related to the Lee Sun-kyun case. In July 2024, a police officer and a prosecution investigator were referred to prosecutors over separate leaks of information relating to the investigation.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Protagonist is the victim
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 2

[1]
YonhapPolice officer admits to leaking investigation report into late actor Lee Sun-kyunMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Yonhap'이선균 수사정보 유출' 경찰관·검찰수사관 불구속 송치MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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2023-10/12

2023 drug-use investigation: public questioning, negative tests and no decision before his death

No legal proceedings

Lee Sun-kyun came under investigation in autumn 2023 for alleged cannabis and psychotropic drug use. He underwent three rounds of questioning, the last lasting approximately 19 hours, while rapid tests and detailed analyses of hair and body hair returned negative results.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
YonhapActor Lee Sun-kyun returns home after 19-hour questioning over drug suspicionsMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.