Lee Sun Kyun death: Woman who blackmailed, attempted to extort 350 million won from actor detained

Korean actor Lee Sun Kyun was found dead inside a car on December 27. In the latest development, a woman in her 20s has been taken into custody by the Seoul police.

Arrest made in connection to actor's death

The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency arrested the suspect after she failed to appear at Incheon District Court for a scheduled substantive review of her arrest warrant. This process allows individuals the police seek to arrest to present their case before a judge.

The woman in custody is accused of blackmailing Lee Sun Kyun and extorting a significant sum of money from him. The reported amount stands at 50 million won, approximately $40,000. According to The Korea Herald, the late actor was not the sole target, as the suspect and a 29-year-old hostess allegedly extorted a total of 350 million won from him.  The woman has been temporarily placed behind bars awaiting her scheduled warrant review. This legal step is set to take place at 2:30 pm on Thursday.

Lee Sun Kyun died by suicide?

Lee Sun Kyun was found unconscious next to charcoal briquettes inside a car at a park in Seoul on Wednesday morning, after his wife reported to police that Lee had left home and she had found what appeared to be a suicide note, Yonhap said.

The actor had been questioned three times by police, including for 19 hours over the weekend. He had said he was tricked into taking drugs by a bar hostess who then tried to blackmail him. South Korea has tough drug laws, and drug crimes are typically punishable by at least six months in prison or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers.

Parasite director Bong Joon Ho and others pay last respect to Lee Sun Kyun

In a viral video, Bong Joon Ho was seen making his way to the mourning site. Hospital Playlist actor Jo Jung Suk seemed distressed as he reached the hospital. He will be seen in Lee Sun Kyun's posthumous film Land of Happiness. Yoo Jae Myung, who features in the film as well, attended the funeral. Dr. Romantic actor Yoo Yeon Seok seemed visibly shaken when he went to Lee Sun Kyun's family to give them his sympathies.

The Korea Herald stated that Sol Kyung Gu, Ha Jung Woo, Lee Sung Min, Lee Jung Jae, Jung Woo Sung, Ryu Joon Yeol, Jeon Do Yeon, Yim Si Wan, Kim Nam Gil, Kim Jong Su, and Bae Seong Woo were also present at the funeral. An emotional Cho Jin Woong was also sighted at the funeral.