Lee Sun Kyun’s Death is Much More Complicated As He Was Reportedly Blackmailed by 2 Women

Last week, the world received sombre news as the acclaimed South Korean actor Lee Sun Kyun, renowned for his role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, was found dead in a car on 27 December 2023. 

His body was discovered near Waryong Park in central Seoul. He was 48 years old at the time of his death.

Authorities and Lee’s agency have remained silent regarding the specifics of his death due to the sensitive nature of the situation, along with its high-profile nature. 

However, since then, numerous allegations concerning the incident have come to light, and police investigations have unveiled a complex case surrounding his tragic death.

Recent reports by mainstream media outlets have now linked Lee’s death to two women, referred to as Female A and Female B.

Lee Sun Kyun’s Relation to Female A and Female B

Understanding Lee’s death has become significantly more complex, as his case has now been linked to two women who allegedly attempted to blackmail him.

One of these women, Female A, has had her identity and appearance made public. 

On 30 December 2023, the YouTube channel Caracula Crime Lab released three uncensored pictures of Female A and revealed her identity, claiming she is a 28-year-old former actress and single mother named Park So Jung.

Image: YouTube (Caracula Crime Lab)
Image: YouTube (Caracula Crime Lab)
Image: YouTube (Caracula Crime Lab)

According to South Korea’s English language newspaper, Korea Herald, Female A and Female B became acquainted while serving at the local prison.  

Female B has been identified as 29-year-old Kim Nam Hee. 

According to the report, Female B was a bar hostess at a high-end bar that Lee frequented in Gangnam, southern Seoul. 

Meanwhile, Yonhap reported that Lee’s alleged drug use occurred at the hostess’s home.

The Hollywood Reporter said that the drugs involved were allegedly marijuana and ketamine, both of which are illegal and carry severe penalties in South Korea.

On 28 December 2023, a day after his death, South Korean celebrity news outlet Dispatch reported that Lee had been a victim of blackmail for over three months.

This blackmail situation occurred before he became the subject of the drug investigation.

Female A Allegedly Threatened to Expose Female B’s Relationship with the Late Lee Sun Kyun

According to the Korea Herald, Female B received 300 million won (S$304,000) from Lee after claiming that a “hacker” had discovered their relationship and threatened to expose it to the public. 

She told Lee that she didn’t know the identity of the “hacker”, though it is now believed that Female A, the former actress, played the role of the “hacker”.

The money was intended to pay the “hacker” to keep their affair a secret.

Female A, who initially targeted Female B despite having no prior connection to Lee, is believed to have pursued the 300 million won by threatening Female B. 

When her plan didn’t succeed, Female A allegedly reported Female B to the police for her alleged drug use.

Female A is also accused of approaching Lee and coercing 50 million won (around S$50,600) from him. Lee admitted to the police that he gave in to their extortion demands.

Image: Yonhap

Both women are now under investigation for extorting a total of 350 million won (approximately S$357,000) from the late Sun Kyun.

Female A Has Allegedly Scammed Multiple Men

Since Female A’s identity has been brought to light, it was reported that she is known for allegedly scamming multiple men.

Female A used a popular mobile application frequented by professionals in their 20s and 30s, as reported by TODAY.

After entering into relationships and engaging in intimate encounters with the men she met through the app, Female A would subsequently inform them she is pregnant, along with demands for financial support.

It came to light that Female A had given birth in January 2023 and had allegedly sought financial support not only from the child’s biological father but also from others she had encountered via the application.

Her ongoing scam persisted for several months, and about five men are said to have fallen victim to these schemes.

However, one of the men managed to arrange a paternity test, which ultimately exposed the deception. He subsequently took legal action against Female A for fraud.

Female A and Female B Used to be Friends, Had a Friendship Fallout

Despite Female B’s claim that she does not have a personal connection with Female A, allegations from Caracula Crime Lab suggest that both women initially crossed paths while serving time in prison and later coincidentally became neighbours in the same residential building upon their release.

Female A, the younger of the two, has reportedly been confirmed as having no prior acquaintance with Lee.

However, it is suggested that Female A eventually turned against Female B.

Female A has been identified as the informant who provided the police with a tip-off regarding the hostess’s purported involvement in drug use. This tip-off prompted Female A to submit Female B’s hair sample to the authorities in October 2023.

Female B, who has a history of six prior drug convictions, was subsequently arrested on 18 October 2023 and is facing new drug-related charges. 

It was her arrest that triggered the investigation into Lee.

Accusations of Illegal Drug Use

Lee had come under investigation following allegations of illegal drug use. 

This entailed repeated police interrogations, with one particularly gruelling session lasting an exhaustive 19 hours over a weekend.

Moreover, authorities had placed travel restrictions on Lee, preventing him from leaving the country as the investigations unfolded. 

During this period, media coverage surrounding his police interviews was intense despite reports indicating that the actor had tested negative for drugs in two prior tests before his untimely death.