Director Byun Young-joo expressed regret while recalling the late actor Lee Sun-kyun.
On the 23rd, a video titled "The actor Lee Sun-kyun I remember, 'Helpless' and the gift he left me" was posted on the YouTube channel "CineDrive." The released video included an episode of director Byun Young-joo appearing on the web variety show "Bang Eun-jin and riding in a car," hosted by actress Bang Eun-jin, drawing attention.
Bang Eun-jin spoke about the 2012 film Helpless, considered one of director Byun Young-joo's masterpieces. In particular, director Byun Young-joo recalled Lee Sun-kyun, who worked closely with her on Helpless, and expressed deep gratitude.
She said, "Lee Sun-kyun was an actor who always made me feel he was on my side. There are not many actors like that. Actors who give emotion to a director are really rare. There are many great actors and many who make films commercially successful, but such actors are truly scarce. Losing him is the same as Korean film directors losing a colleague," she said emphatically.
Director Byun Young-joo was not the only one who recognized Lee Sun-kyun's value. Miyabe Miyuki, the Japanese author who wrote the original work of Helpless, also particularly liked the Helpless that included Lee Sun-kyun.
Director Byun Young-joo revealed, "Author Miyabe Miyuki especially liked Helpless. Her works have been remade so many times around the world. She always said she had seen Helpless. But Helpless is also Lee Sun-kyun's Helpless, isn't it? So she gave me the rights hoping that I and Lee Sun-kyun would do the novel 'Iyoo' together. But something happened to Seon-kyun," she confessed, evoking sadness.
In particular, she emphasized, "That is why I still cannot forgive the prosecution and the police. I will probably never be able to forgive them in my lifetime," stirring emotion.
In October 2023, Lee Sun-kyun faced a police investigation on charges of drug use. However, his real name was exposed to the media from the investigative stage, and thereafter Lee Sun-kyun had to stand before the police station photo line while undergoing three public summons for questioning. The third summons, held on Dec. 23 of the same year, was conducted intensely for 19 hours.
However, at the time Lee Sun-kyun consistently denied the related charges. He also tested negative for drugs in both rapid reagent tests and detailed forensic examinations. Ultimately, four days after the third summons, on Dec. 27, he was found dead in a vehicle parked near Waryong Park in Seongbuk District, Seoul, drawing sorrow.
[Photo] OSEN DB, YouTube source.
[OSEN]