The Oscars 2024, or the 96th Academy Awards, honored individuals who have made great contributions to the industry, including South Korean star Lee Sun Kyun.

During the ceremony's In Memoriam, the organization paid tribute to filmmakers and actors who passed away in 2023 through montage.

The Oscars 2024 Honor Lee Sun Kyun, Matthew Perry, More

South Korean actor Lee Sun Kyun was included on the list of Oscars 2024 honored during the In Memoriam.

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and son Matteo Bocelli performed "Time to Say Goodbye" along with interpretive dancers during the "In Memoriam '' segment.

Meanwhile, the 48-year-old Korean actor headlined the Oscar-winning movie "Parasite," directed by the renowned filmmaker Bong Joon Ho.

Apart from this, Lee Sun Kyun rose to fame after joining as one of the main characters in the hit K-drama "Coffee Prince."

In addition to his achievements, he headlined the Korean adaptation of "Dr. Brain," where he won a nomination for Best Actor at the 2022 International Emmy Awards.

Adding to the list of his projects are "Diary of a Prosecutor," "Miss Korea," and the hit series "Pasta" with Gong Hyo Jin.

Meanwhile, other than Lee Sun Kyun, Oscars 2024 also paid tribute to Indian art director Nitin Desai, "Friends" star Matthew Perry, as well as Harry Belafonte, Melinda Dillon, Norman Jewison, Ryan O'Neal, Julian Sands, Paul Reubens, Piper Laurie, Carl Weathers, and more.

Lee Sun Kyun's Death

On December 27, 2023, Lee Sun Kyun was found dead in a parked car in central Seoul. At the time, reports cited that the actor, who was 48 years old, died from an apparent suicide.

However, before Lee Sun Kyun's shocking death, the actor was dealing with an investigation due to alleged illegal drug use.

For two months, the "Dr. Brain" star faced public scrutiny after a leaked conversation with an escort resurfaced.

As for the actor, he claimed that he was deceived into taking illegal drugs and was eventually blackmailed by the person.

Due to the negative issue, Lee Sun Kyun and even his wife, actress Jeon Hye Jin, lost advertisement deals. They reportedly have to pay a huge amount of penalty, estimated to be around 10 billion KRW or 7.4 million USD, due to a breach of contracts. This is because the industry is very sensitive when it comes to the images of their endorsers or ambassadors.

Following the news surrounding the actor, Lee Sun Kyun's agency, HODU&U Entertainment, released an official statement addressing the controversy surrounding the actor.

Apart from confirming that they are "sincerely engaged in investigations," the talent label highlighted that the "Parasite" star "received constant blackmail and threats from "A," a person related to the case, and we've submitted a complaint to investigators."

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Written by Geca Wills