SUWON — In a significant development, a senior police officer has confessed to the unauthorized disclosure of information from a drug investigation involving the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, as reported by the Suwon District Court.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the information pertained to an ongoing investigation and was improperly shared by an officer from the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency.
The court disclosed these details as it ruled against the request for an arrest warrant for the officer, considering that the individual had already admitted to the crime and crucial evidence had been secured. The leaked report, produced by the drug investigation unit of the Incheon police in mid-October, contained sensitive personal details related to Lee Sun-kyun's drug allegations, including names, criminal records, and professions. The breach came to light after an entertainment news outlet published a photograph of the document in December.
Investigations are ongoing to determine how the officer accessed the confidential report and the identity of the recipients of the leaked information. Following the detention of the officer, the Incheon police agency has suspended him from duty.
The revelation has reignited debates surrounding privacy and the handling of sensitive information by the police, particularly in light of Lee Sun-kyun's death. The acclaimed actor, known for his role in the film "Parasite," was found deceased in his car in Seoul on December 27, shortly after facing public scrutiny over allegations of drug use. The circumstances surrounding Lee's appearances before the media prior to his death have prompted demands for an investigation into the police's practices, with figures from the entertainment industry, including "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho, advocating for a thorough review.