A top star undergoing a police investigation for drug allegations has been revealed to be actor Lee Sun Kyun, and his upcoming K-Drama has been hit hard by this news.
Actor Lee Sun Kyun | @hoduent/Instagram
Recently, the K-Drama No Way Out began its first filming. According to Star News on October 20, Lee Sun Kyun, the lead actor of No Way Out, was scheduled for his first filming on October 21 and 22. However, due to the sudden controversy over drug allegations, it was reported that Lee Sun Kyun could not join the filming immediately. This was a bolt from the blue for the production company and staff who had already started filming.
No Way Out is about a confrontation between those who want to kill and those who want to survive when a heinous criminal is released, and a ₩20.0 billion KRW (about $14.8 million USD) public murder bounty occurs.
Lee Sun Kyun was set to play a police officer named Baek Jung Shik, who must protect citizens from the heinous criminal. Besides Lee Sun Kyun, the show features prominent actors, such as Yoo Jae Myung, Yum Jung Ah, Kim Mu Yeol, and Lee Kwang Soo.
Yum Jung Ah, Lee Sun Kyun, Yoo Jae Myung, Kim Mu Yeol, and Lee Kwang Soo (left to right) | OSEN
With the unexpected huge risk of Lee Sun Kyun and his current situation, it seems likely that there will be a replacement for his role in No Way Out.
When news of his drug allegations went out, Lee Sun Kyun’s agency, HODU&U Entertainment, made a statement.
We deeply apologize for causing concern with the reports related to our artist Lee Sun Kyun… We are currently checking on the accurate facts about the suspicions raised towards Lee Sun Kyun. We plan to diligently and truthfully comply with the inspectors and investigations that will be carried out in the future.
— HODU&U Entertainment
They also shared that Lee Sun Kyun had received defamation and threats from a specific individual related to the case. They are acting against this person and have asked the public to refrain from spreading false information about the actor.
In addition, actor Lee Sun Kyun has continuously received defamation and threats from an individual who is related to the case and has submitted a complaint to the investigating agency. We will convey future developments through our legal representative. We ask for your understanding… Furthermore, we will strongly respond to the dissemination of false information through malicious or untrue posts.
— HODU&U Entertainment
Lee Sun Kyun debuted in 2001 as a musical actor and became well-known through his roles in the K-Dramas White Tower (2007) and Coffee Prince (2007). He gained his spot as a top actor in Korea by participating in more works, such as the films Helpless (2012) and All About My Wife (2012). He gained international success when he played the wealthy family’s father in Bong Joon Ho’s Academy Award-winning film Parasite in 2019.
It was unexpected news to the production team, too.