The heartbroken family of Parasite star Lee Sun-kyun have paid an emotional farewell to the actor surrounded by his friends and co-stars as he was laid to rest.
Mourners wept next to a vehicle carrying his coffin as they attended the funeral hall at the Seoul National University Hospital in South Korea.
His wife Jeon Hye-jin, an actress and former Miss Korea contestant, and two sons looked devastated as they attended the ceremony held today.
The star’s portrait was carried out of the funeral home by his eldest son, followed by his wife who held hands with the couple’s youngest child. Lee’s friends and co-stars watched the funeral procession filled with tears and sorrow.
Fans stuck memos on the walls of the funeral home – with messages reading ‘Goodbye My Mister’ and ‘Now please rest in peace’ in remembrance of the actor’s legacy.
Lee was found dead in his car in a suspected suicide at the age of 48 on Wednesday morning.
His wife called police after finding a suicide note. His body was found in a Seoul car park.
Lee Sun-kyun’s wife Jeon Hye-jin, an actress and former Miss Korea contestant, looked devastated next to a vehicle carrying the coffin of the late actor
Lee’s wife and two sons are seen looking heartbroken as they attended the star’s funeral today
Lee Sun-kyun (pictured) was found dead in his car in a suspected suicide at the age of 48 on Wednesday morning
The hearse carrying the casket of late South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun leaves a funeral hall after his funeral ceremony at the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul
Mourners carry a portrait and the casket containing late South Korean actor Lee
A hearse carrying the coffin of the late actor during his funeral ceremony in Seoul today
The star will be cremated and his remains will be placed at a memorial park in Gwangju, 32 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
His agency urged the public to respect the heartbroken family’s privacy earlier this week, adding that the funeral would be held in private.
Lee married Jeon, who appeared as contestant in the 1997 Miss Korea pageant on behalf of Gyeongnam, in 2009 and the couple shared two sons.
Before his death, Lee was being investigated by police over allegations of taking marijuana and a powder which his accuser, a hostess at a high end bar, said was ketamine. She claimed the drugs were taken at her home.
After news of an official investigation into his alleged drug use was published in late October, he was dropped from major projects, including a mystery thriller TV show, No Way Out, that began shooting that month.
The production company in charge of shooting the show sought to fire him after police said they may have needed a sample of his hair for drug testing, local media reported.
The production company said at the time that it had notified all crew and cast members working on the show, which is about a South Korean serial killer who is being hunted down by a police officer, that shooting would be postponed for two weeks to reorganise the cast.
Mourners carry a portrait and the casket containing late South Korean actor Lee after his funeral ceremony at the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul
Crowds gathered at the funeral to remember the late father, husband and actor
A hearse is seen carrying the coffin of the late actor at his funeral today
People carry the coffin containing the body of actor Lee during his funeral
The star will be cremated and his remains will be placed at a memorial park in Gwangju, 32 kilometers southeast of Seoul
His three appearances at police stations for questioning were highly publicised, and made headlines. His lawyer, after his final session on December 23 , asked that any further questioning be carried out in private, owing to the ‘burden’ of the spotlight.
Lee insisted he had not knowingly taken illegal drugs, and passed toxicology tests: he was demanding a lie detector test at the time of his death, to assess whether he or the hostess – known only as ‘A’ – was telling the truth.
He claimed she was trying to blackmail him, and had filed a criminal case.
‘I would like to sincerely apologize once again for causing so many people concerns,’ he said after his first questioning, on October 28 at the Nonhyeon Police Station in Incheon.
‘I will answer all questions truthfully.
‘A’ tricked me into doing drugs. I did not know that what she handed me were illegal drugs.’
South Korea, like many Asian countries, has extremely strict laws against drug use. Those who sell or buy marijuana face a minimum of one year in prison. Those who use it can be sentenced to up to five years in prison or fined up to $37,600.