Oscar-winning “Parasite” filmmaker Bong Joon-ho and different South Korean stars known as for an investigation on Friday into police and media conduct within the days resulting in actor Lee Sun-kyun’s dying.
Lee, greatest identified globally for his starring function in Bong’s 2019 movie “Parasite”, was discovered lifeless in a automobile in Seoul final month, after a two-month police investigation over suspected drug use.
Following his dying, police had been accused of leaking confidential particulars of their probe, triggering frenzied mainstream media protection and a flurry of damaging social media content material on YouTube and past.
“We urge a thorough investigation by the authorities to ascertain whether there were any lapses in police investigative security,” Bong stated Friday at a press convention attended by South Korean cineastes and business figures.
He added officers also needs to look at “whether any unauthorized disclosures” originated from cops concerned within the Lee medication investigation improperly speaking with the media.
Bong was studying a press release, signed by round 30 organizations in South Korea’s booming leisure business, together with movie festivals, actors’ unions, and the native screenwriters’ guild.
Actor Kim Eui-sung, who was additionally on the press occasion Friday, stated Lee’s dying was as a consequence of a “character assassination.”
“I hope that such tragedies will never be repeated in the investigation of pop culture artists,” he stated.
Once celebrated for his healthful picture, Lee’s popularity suffered a big blow when news of the police medication probe grew to become public in October.
He was rapidly dropped from tv, movie and business tasks, incurring damages media experiences estimated at as much as 10 billion gained ($7.8 million).
Bong and others known as for strengthened laws to higher shield artists and entertainers, and urged the media to do higher in future.
They particularly singled out South Korea’s nationwide broadcaster KBS for his or her protection of the case. In November, KBS launched audio recordings purportedly of Lee’s non-public cellphone 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 assertion stated.
“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 examined damaging for medication twice, throughout police investigations and in a lab check in November, in keeping with the Yonhap news company.
He had additionally sat for 3 prolonged periods of police questioning, with the final one beginning December 23 lasting for 19 hours. Lee’s physique was discovered December 27.
Incheon Metropolitan Police chief Kim Hui-jung stated final month that the “entire investigation process” was carried out “in accordance with legal procedures” and that no leaks had occurred.
South Korea has extraordinarily strict drug legal guidelines, and public opinion is usually supportive of police probes into unlawful use and significant of individuals discovered to be breaking the legislation.
But since Lee’s dying, criticism of police and media therapy of the late star has erupted on-line.
© 2024 AFP