It’s been a sad end to December and therefore 2023 itself in the world of Korean film and international cinema in general.
If any readers weren’t already aware, “Parasite” actor Lee Sun-kyun (이선균) died this month and he was so young to leave this planet.
Of course, he wasn’t only known for that multi-Oscar-winner by director Bong Joon-ho but also a string of Korean films for two decades.
It’s worth noting though, that in addition to other accolades, Lee Sun-kyun was also included in a Screen Actors Guild award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.
Korean film cineasts will surely know him from “A Hard Day” (by director Kim Seong Hun) and “Paju” (by Park Chan-ok’s). Mr Lee also starred in a few Hong Sang-soo films, essentially “Night And Day”, “Oki’s Movie” and “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon” – such films are only some of what he was involved in, as he is well-known for starting in Korean TV series’ too.
Other films included “Helpless”, “All About My Wife” and one of my old favourites, “Sa-Kwa” (albeit he is/was also known as Lee Seon-gyun, a different romanisation of his name, 이선균 ).
Lee’s success, and having featured in “Parasite” led to him playing the lead role “Dr. Brain”, which was the first Korean-language original series from Apple TV+ and he even went on to receive an international Emmy award nomination.
Rather than talk more about his work and indeed the reasons behind his death, I want to simply leave this article with a huge thanks for all that he did for cinema and TV and to extend my heartfelt sympathy to those he was close to and anyone who worked with him or knew him on a personal level and professional one.
RIP L S-K.
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