Lee Sun Kyun death case: Senior Police officer ARRESTED for allegedly leaking information on investigation

In the ongoing investigations into the death of 'Parasite' actor Lee Sun Kyun, a senior officer of the Incheon Metropolitan Police has reportedly been apprehended on suspicion of leaking information.


Reports state that the officer was arrested on March 21, by the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Investigation Unit of the Southern Gyeonggi Police. The officer, identified as 'A', was accused of leaking information from the investigation, including details of the late actor's alleged drug use.


It has been clarified that the officer in custody was not a part of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit investigating the case which hit headlines in October 2023.


With 'A' now in custody, reports state that authorities have executed a secondary search and seizure operation at the premises of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency.


This development follows a request put forth by the department to the Southern Gyeonggi Police in January, urging an inquiry into the purported leakage of investigation details concerning the actor before his sudden death by apparent suicide.


The involvement of an external agency was sought to ensure an impartial and transparent investigation process.


Moving forward, 'A' will be transferred to the Southern Gyeonggi Police Agency for further investigation, accompanied by a comprehensive analysis of all seized materials.


In January, Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho and a group of artists demanded a comprehensive inquiry into the death of actor Lee Sun Kyun. During a nationally televised press conference, the director and fellow artists, including writers, performers, and producers, raised concerns over the conduct of law enforcement. They questioned the repeated summoning of Lee, often in the presence of television cameras, and speculated about potential inappropriate leaks of investigation details to the media.


Additionally, they criticized media outlets for 'sensationalizing' aspects of Lee's private life unrelated to the drug investigation, in what they described as "severe character assassination" against the late actor.


In a joint statement, the group urged authorities to thoroughly investigate the handling of information during the police inquiry. They emphasized the need for revisions to existing laws to safeguard human rights during criminal investigations.