On Friday, October 4, 2024, Kim Won-seok, the acclaimed director behind the popular South Korean drama My Mister, attended a tribute event honoring the late actor Lee Sun-kyun at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The tribute, titled “Remembering the Late Actor Lee Sun-kyun,” was held at the Lotte Cinema Centum City in Haeundae, Busan, alongside fellow actors Park Ho-san and Song Sae-byeok.
During the ceremony, Kim Won-seok addressed the distressing false accusations that surrounded Lee Sun-kyun before his tragic passing. The actor had been under investigation for alleged drug use since October 2023 and reportedly took his own life on December 27, startling numerous netizens. The director articulated the profound unfairness of the situation.
Director Kim stated:
“Even if they committed a crime, I believe they can be given an opportunity. In this case, it wasn’t even a crime, and there was no evidence of any crime. It was just an uncomfortable situation. I can’t help but feel that my suggestion might have been a heavy burden on Lee Sun-kyun’s heart, and that breaks my heart.”
My Mister’s director Kim Won-seok addresses false accusations against Lee Sun-kyun
At the BIFF tribute, a special talk session was held to reflect on My Mister, the 2018 series featuring both Lee Sun-kyun and IU. The director recalled a poignant quote from the show regarding the act of severing ties. He shared:
“There was a line that hit me in a new way: ‘Why are you so eager to cut people off?’ to which Park Dong-hoon (played by Lee Sun-kyun) replied, “That’s just how companies work. Do you think they cut people based on who can’t do their job? No, they cut people who are an inconvenience.”
He related this theme to the pressures faced by actors, directors, and media figures who often find themselves ostracized by society. Kim Won-seok added that these media professionals frequently endure public scrutiny and criticism.
“Personally, I believe that the media outfits, police, and prosecutors behind these absurd articles are only empowered because the public tolerates them. If the public hadn’t accepted those articles, they wouldn’t have been published. I think the public knows very well how powerful they are in this age of media,”he asserted.
Kim concluded his remarks with an apology to the audience, emphasizing the need for the public to act responsibly considering the consequences their words and actions have on media personalities. He specifically highlighted the issue of leaking false information and baseless investigation reports.
“I just hope we can all be more careful. The ultimate power lies with you, the public. Without your support and encouragement, actors wouldn’t exist. Those who leaked false information and baseless investigation reports must be punished,”he emphasized.
In a touching tribute, Lee Sun-kyun was awarded the Korean Film Achievement Award posthumously at the 29th Busan International Film Festival, recognizing his significant contributions to Korean cinema.
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