Will 30 Billion Won Vanish in Lee Seon-gyun's Drug Scandal? [Focus]

Lead Actor Drug Allegations 'Film Industry on Edge'
Hundreds of Billions Won Production Budget at Risk
"Worried Investment Will Shrink"

30 billion won is at risk of disappearing into thin air. Actor Lee Sun-kyun (48) has been caught up in a drug scandal. He is suspected of using various types of drugs with A, a 29-year-old female manager of a Gangnam entertainment establishment, known as a 'membership room salon.' The atmosphere in the film industry is tense. Recently, theaters have been experiencing a slump, struggling to attract even one million viewers. Although this was initially seen as a temporary hardship due to the pandemic, the industry is now actively seeking ways to adapt and find solutions. The impact caused by one actor on filmmakers walking on thin ice has been enormous.

Lee Seon-gyun [Photo by Yonhap News]

He also attended the Cannes Film Festival in France. The festival is both a celebration for filmmakers and an important business venue. CJ ENM invested in and distributed the film Escape: Project Silence (director Kim Tae-gon, hereafter 'Escape'). Following the Palme d'Or for Parasite (director Bong Joon-ho) in 2019 and the Best Director award for Decision to Leave (director Park Chan-wook) in 2022, this year CJ ENM worked hard to have Escape invited to the Midnight Screening section of the non-competitive category.

The disaster film Escape was screened at the 76th Cannes Film Festival held last May. It depicts events following a series of collisions on the Airport Bridge. Lee Sun-kyun plays the lead role, portraying Cha Jung-won, an administrative officer at the Blue House Security Office. The film relies heavily on computer graphics (CG). The production cost was 18.5 billion won. Including promotional expenses during the release process, it is estimated to exceed 20 billion won.

Familiar to Cannes audiences from Parasite, Lee Sun-kyun received a warm round of applause immediately after the official screening of Escape. His wife, Jeon Hye-jin, and their two sons applauded from the audience. Producer-director Kim Yong-hwa and actors Joo Ji-hoon and Kim Hee-won were also present. Director Kim Tae-gon was presenting his first film in seven years since Goodbye Single (2016). It was his first time attending the Cannes Film Festival, and he enjoyed the moment. At Cannes, director Yoon Je-kyun, who had worked with Kim Tae-gon as an assistant director on My Boss, My Hero (2001), was present as the CEO of CJ ENM Studios and applauded the film. The screening at Cannes was meaningful in many ways.

However, Escape was not released in theaters immediately after Cannes. CJ ENM had already scheduled the release of The Moon in August as a tentpole film. The Escape team reportedly accelerated post-production for a domestic release. But with Lee Sun-kyun facing drug use allegations, the film’s release has become uncertain. There is a growing sense of despair in the film industry as 20 billion won could potentially go to waste. A source stated, "We will monitor the investigation situation further."

'Escape' Episode 76 Official Screening at Cannes Film Festival
[Photo by CJ ENM]

CJ ENM’s concerns have deepened. Starting with Phantom this year, films like The Moon and Dr. Cheon’s Exorcism Research Institute: The Secret of Snowy Scenery have consecutively failed to break even at the box office. Their production costs range from 10 billion to 30 billion won, resulting in significant losses even with rough calculations. Moreover, Escape, with nearly 20 billion won in production costs, is now drifting toward becoming a webhard (illegal online distribution) victim.

NEW is also distressed. The film Land of Happiness (director Chu Chang-min), which invested 9 billion won, completed filming early and was in post-production but has now been halted. Lee Sun-kyun’s scenes, as the lead actor, are unlikely to be edited out. This film also incurred massive production costs nearing 10 billion won. Similarly, they have stated they will "wait and see."

The production of season 2 of the online video service (OTT) series Dr. Brain, starring Lee Sun-kyun, has become uncertain, and the drama No Way Out saw his withdrawal before the first shoot.

Lee Sun-kyun, who was initially summoned on the 28th of last month and released after a preliminary reagent test, is scheduled to appear again at the police station on the 4th. Under the Narcotics Control Act, Lee is suspected of marijuana and psychotropic drug use. He tested negative in the reagent test on the day. The police sent his hair and urine samples to the National Forensic Service for detailed analysis. Depending on whether Lee admits to the charges and the number of times he used drugs, the police are considering applying for an arrest warrant.

[Photo by CJ ENM]

A film industry insider said, "Since this is an ongoing investigation, we need to wait and see," but added, "Damage to his image from the drug and entertainment establishment controversy is inevitable." They also noted, "With recent reductions in theatrical film investments and difficulties in the release process, it is uncertain whether films featuring the actor will be screened in theaters."

Another insider lamented, "It was already a difficult situation in many ways, and now it has become even harder," adding, "The burden is compounding." They predicted, "The market will contract further for the time being." They also added, "In a broad sense, 'change' is inevitable."

Many film industry insiders facing this situation could not hide their frustration. The ripple effect caused by one lead actor on the film industry appears to be significant.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.