Remembering Lee Sun-kyun: A Look Back At His Notable Movies And Dramas

The global entertainment industry is in shock following the news of the passing of Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film, Parasite. In memory of the dedicated actor, here are some of his most notable roles in television and film.

#1 Behind the White Tower (2007)

Photo from MBC

Lee rose to fame by playing Choi Do-young in the hit medical drama Behind the White Tower on MBC in 2007. The show, known for showing the tough competition and politics among doctors and administrators at the hospital, earned him the Golden Acting Award at the MBC Drama Awards in 2007. In the same year, he received a nomination for Best New Actor in the television category at the 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards.

#2 Coffee Prince (2007)

Photo from MBC

In this 2007 drama, Lee Sun-kyun took on the role of Choi Han-sung, a skilled record producer. His character found himself entangled in a complicated web of love and loyalty, dealing with issues related to his ex-girlfriend and his cousin’s first love. The show was voted Best Drama at the 20th Korea PD Awards and he was nominated for the Excellence Award, Actor at the MC Drama Awards.

#3 Pasta (2010)

Photo from MBC

Lee Sun-kyun portrayed the character of a chef who came back from abroad and held stereotypical beliefs about female chefs. But things took a turn when he started falling for one, causing his view to change over time. Pasta is a feel-good story about two people chasing their dreams of being top chefs. They started off not really getting along but ended up falling for each other. It’s your classic K-drama story—a journey from butting heads to slowly falling for each other.

#4 My Mister (2018)

Photo from tvN

This drama centred on a man in his 40s (played by Lee Sun-kyun) and a young woman in her 20s (played by IU) facing tough times. They found comfort in each other as they navigated life’s challenges. Lee mentioned in a recent interview that My Mister was his favourite project. The drama won the prize for Best Drama at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.

#5 Parasite (2019)

Photo from CJ Entertainment

This Oscar-winning movie portrayed the dark side of today’s society where the poor, the Kim family, cunningly became part of the rich Parks’ lives. The movie revealed how the working class fought among themselves for survival, while families like the Parks lived comfortably, benefiting from the labor of those beneath them. Lee took on the role of the rich father, someone who judged the poor without knowing their hardships.