Actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the award-winning film ā€œParasite,ā€ was found dead after an apparent suicide.

According to the Associated Press, Sun-kyun was found dead in a parked car on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in Seoul, South Korea. Upon their discovery, emergency officers along with police found him in what they thought was an ā€œunconscious state.ā€

The Yonhap news agency reported that a charcoal briquette was found in the passenger seat.

Subsequently, emergency officials later confirmed Sun-kyun was dead, per Seoul’s Seongbuk police station.

ā€œAs he was pronounced dead, he wasn’t taken to hospital,ā€ a fire official said.

Police had been searching for him after they received a report that same day that he was he left his home after writing a message that resembled a suicide note and his car was gone.

Sun-kyun was 48.

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In late October, the actor was under investigation and was questioned by police three times for suspicions of illegal drug use at the home of a bar hostess on numerous occasions.

However, Sun-kyun claimed he was tricked into taking the drugs and was unaware of what he was consuming. He then filed a lawsuit against two people including the hostess, accusing them of blackmailing him.

In a public statement addressing the allegations, Sun-kyun apologized to his family and fans amid his first summoning by police.

ā€œI feel sorry to my family members who are enduring too difficult pains at this moment. I again sincerely apologize to everyone,ā€ he said, via the Associated Press.

In November, the Screen Actors Guild award winner tested negative after taking the brief reagent test and the lab-based drug tested by National Forensic Service which was done during police investigations, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The day before, Sun-kyun requested to take a polygraph test to the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency charged with the investigation. He maintained his innocence.

Kang Youn-gon, a media communication professor at Seoul’s Chung-Ang University, came to his defense against the allegations.

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ā€œLee faced some allegations but they haven’t been formally verified. But the media has been assertively reporting about Lee’s private life … and I think that’s something wrong,ā€ Youn-gon stated, via the Associated Press.