South Korean actor Lee Sun-Kyun is dead

The Oscar-winning actor Lee Sun-kyun, a native of South Korea, was discovered dead, according to the police.

According to capital officials, Lee, 48, died on Wednesday in a park in Seoul by what appeared to be suicide.

Police had been looking into the actor for possible drug use. Violations of the severe drug laws in South Korea carry a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for repeat offenders and dealers, or six months in jail.

Police said that Lee was discovered in a car at a park in the heart of Seoul.

“Less than 30 minutes earlier, his manager had called for help after the embattled actor left his home, leaving behind what appeared to be a suicide note,” said Al Jazeera’s Eunice Kim, reporting from Seoul.

According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, which cited police, Lee left behind a "note that reads like a will."

"The top actor had been under intense pressure since October,” our correspondent said. “That’s when he faced allegations of drug use, including marijuana, which is a high crime here in South Korea. Over the weekend he underwent intense police questioning, some 19 hours.”

Amidst a government crackdown, the actor had been questioned by police three times regarding allegations of using illegal drugs.

Our correspondent said that Lee had claimed that a bar hostess had tried to blackmail him by tricking him into taking drugs that he thought were sleeping pills.

President Yoon Suk-yeol announced a war on drugs this year, which has led to a broader crackdown on drug use in South Korea.

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