Actor Lee Sang-bo delivered the sad news on his 20th anniversary since debut. He, who lived diligently both as an actor and as a person, overcame a drug accusation amid much support and made a successful comeback, but his sudden farewell made the situation more tragic.
Lee Sang-bo debuted in 2006 through KBS2 drama "Invisible Man Choi Jang-soo." Playing the role of Woo Bo-hyun in the series, Lee Sang-bo became known to the public and later appeared in the drama "Romance Hunter", "Daughter-in-law's heyday", "Bad love", "Special investigation unit MSS", "Iron colors", "A man who must die to live", "Rugal", "Privacy", "Miss Monte Cristo", "Elegant empire" and in the films "Kisarazu Cats Eye world series", "Secretly, Greatly", "Mephisto".
On Sept. 10, 2022, he caused a stir when he was reported to be walking as if intoxicated and was urgently arrested by police on suspicion of drug use. But Lee Sang-bo had not taken drugs; the incident happened when he took the antidepressants and tranquilizers he had been taking together with alcohol on a holiday after suffering severe depression and panic disorder following the successive losses of his older sister and parents. In fact, Lee Sang-bo lost his sister in 1998, and his father and mother in 2010 and 2019, respectively.
Clearing his name in the drug accusation case and restoring his honor, Lee Sang-bo returned through "Elegant empire" and received much support. After successfully finishing the work amid encouragement, Lee Sang-bo said he was determined "to prepare so much in terms of acting that it overturns that incident and shows it to people. So that that incident can be forgotten. Two ambitions arose strongly. As an actor, a sense of responsibility and, because of my profession, to naturally bury it."
Last year he signed an exclusive contract with Korea Management Group. Sharing a home with Ahn Jae-mo and Lee Soo-kyung, he sought a new leap as an actor. In particular, OSEN reporting found that Lee Sang-bo recently opened a barbecue restaurant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and took on operations and serving to greet customers. Customers who visited the restaurant recounted sightings of Lee Sang-bo in reviews, which suggests that Lee Sang-bo lived a fierce life as both an actor and a barbecue restaurant owner.
However, Lee Sang-bo was found dead on the 26th. Police who arrived at the scene after a family report are currently investigating the exact cause of death. His agency said, "checking," and withheld comment, but it was confirmed that Lee Sang-bo's funeral hall was set up in Room 3 of Pyeongtaek Central Funeral Hall in Gyeonggi Province.
Lee Sang-bo's cousin, who ran the barbecue restaurant with him and stayed by his side, was devastated. In a phone call with OSEN, the cousin said, "My feelings are complicated," expressing his state of mind. The fact that Lee Sang-bo died in 2026, his 20th year since debut, makes it even more heartbreaking.
Meanwhile, Lee Sang-bo's funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on the 29th. The burial site is the Pyeongtaek city memorial hall.
[OSEN]