Headlines
Actor Lee Sun-kyun had been dropped from TV projects due to ‘hostess blackmail drug scandal’ before he was found dead in suspected suicide
South Korean actor and Parasite star, Lee Sun-kyun had been dropped from TV projects due to ‘hostess blackmail drug scandal’ before he was found dead in a suspected suicide.
The acclaimed South Korean actor who shot to worldwide fame following the release of the Oscar-winning film Parasite was found dead in his car in a suspected suicide at the age of 48 on Wednesday morning, December 27.
His wife, Jeon Hye-jin, an actress and former Miss Korea contestant, called the police after finding a suicide note. His body was found in a Seoul car park.
Lee was being investigated by police over allegations of taking marijuana and a powder which his accuser, a hostess at a high-end bar, said was ketamine. The drugs, she claimed, were taken at her home.
After news of an official investigation into his alleged drug use was published in late October, he was dropped from major projects, including a mystery thriller TV show, No Way Out, that began shooting that month.
The production company in charge of shooting the show sought to fire him after police said they may have needed a sample of his hair for drug testing, local media reported.
The production company said at the time that it had notified all crew and cast members working on the show, which is about a South Korean serial killer who is being hunted down by a police officer, that shooting would be postponed for two weeks to reorganise the cast.
His three appearances at police stations for questioning were highly publicised, and made headlines. His lawyer, after his final session on December 23 , asked that any further questioning be carried out in private, owing to the ‘burden’ of the spotlight.
Lee insisted he had not knowingly taken illegal drugs, and passed toxicology tests: he was demanding a lie detector test at the time of his death, to assess whether he or the hostess – known only as ‘A’ – was telling the truth.
He claimed she was trying to blackmail him, and had filed a criminal case.
‘I would like to sincerely apologize once again for causing so many people concerns,’ he said after his first questioning, on October 28 at the Nonhyeon Police Station in Incheon.
‘I will answer all questions truthfully.
‘A’ tricked me into doing drugs. I did not know that what she handed me were illegal drugs.’
South Korea has extremely strict laws against drug use.
Those who sell or buy marijuana face a minimum of one year in prison. Those who use it can be sentenced to up to five years in prison or fined up to $37,600.
Lee apologized to the public after his first police interview for his ‘involvement in such a dishonorable affair’ and pledged to cooperate with the investigation in an ‘honest’ manner.
Lee had been questioned three times – in October; on November 4; and on December 23, when he arrived at the police station at 10am and was interrogated for 19 hours.
He was accused of using ketamine, marijuana, and psychedelics on multiple occasions.
The actor had said he was tricked into taking drugs by a bar hostess who then tried to blackmail him.
Lee had filed a complaint against the woman, claiming she had blackmailed and extorted some 350 million won ($270,000) from him, The Korea Herald reported.
But Lee had admitted that he and the host met four times and he had inhaled a powder through the nose with a straw. He said he thought was a crushed sleeping pill.
The woman claimed to have seen Lee snorting ketamine.
The identity of the bar hostess in her 20s, who worked in the Gangnam district of Seoul, has not been made public.
Lee’s attorney had said last week that he should not be forced to endure further public humiliation by showing up at the police station for questioning, as the actor felt ‘burdened’ by having to show up in front of cameras for police summons.
The December 23 questioning was likely his last, police sources told local media.
The session lasted 19 hours, and he left the police station in the early hours of Christmas Eve.
‘I have also completed questioning as the plaintiff in the blackmail case,’ Lee said to reporters as he came out of the police building on Sunday morning.
‘The police will now decide whether my statements or the blackmailers are credible, and I hope that they use good judgment.’
When asked if the actor admitted to the allegations of drug use, Lee replied that he he had ‘answered all questions sincerely during the police investigation today.’
Lee was discovered three days later, inside of a car near Waryong Park in northern Jongno-gu, Seoul.
The post Actor Lee Sun-kyun had been dropped from TV projects due to 'hostess blackmail drug scandal' before he was found dead in suspected suicide appeared first on NewsNow Nigeria.
Education
1ST NIGERIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS CONFERENCE ON UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) ESSAY COMPETITION
Competition Overview:
The SDG Youth Essay Competition offers a grand prize of N1 million for the top three winners, along with free sponsorship to attend the 1st Nigeria Tertiary Institution Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in April 2024 in Abuja.
Competition Requirements:
1. Eligibility:
– Open exclusively to undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
2. Entry Guidelines:
– Topic:The Role of Students in Attainment of SDG4
– length: Essays should be 1500 words.
– Entry Period: Thursday, February 1, 2024 – Thursday, February 29, 2024
– Referencing: APA Style (6th Edition).
– Font: Times New Roman, 12-point font size.
– Documentation: Typed in 1.5 line spacing, MS Word format only.
– Plagiarism: Only original content is accepted; plagiarized entries will be disqualified.
Benefits:
– Prizes:
– 1st Prize: N500,000
– 2nd Prize: N300,000
– 3rd Prize: N200,000
– Winners will also receive free sponsorship to attend the 1st Nigeria Tertiary Institution Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in April 2024 in Abuja.
Required Documents:
– Student’s Institution ID Card
– Copy of Student’s Admission Letter
– One recent passport-size photograph
– WhatsApp telephone number and email address
Application Procedure:
– All entries and submissions (essay and required documents) should be scanned and sent to nigeriaessay@sdgyouth.org before the deadline.
For Further Inquiries:
– Call: 08068931151, 08133846739, 07067772964
– Email: nigeriaessay@sdgyouth.org
Deadline: February 29th, 2024
Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to achieving SDG4 and win exciting prizes. Submit your entry and required documents before the deadline. For any inquiries, feel free to contact them via phone or email.
Competition Overview:
The National Essay Competition invites undergraduate law students to showcase their expertise and contribute to the discourse on AI, privacy, and data protection. In addition to cash prizes, participants have the chance to intern with Pentagon Partners, gaining valuable hands-on experience.
Competition Requirements:
1. Eligibility:
– The competition is open to 400-level and 500-level undergraduate law students in Nigerian universities.
2. Essay Requirements:
– Length: Essays should not exceed 1500 words.
– Format: Double spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font.
– References: OSCOLA format for citations with 10pt font size for footnotes and endnotes.
– Submission Format: Essays must be submitted in PDF format.
– Entrant Details: Include full names, school, level, phone number, and email address in both the body of the email and on the last page of the essay.
– Single Entry: Each entrant is allowed only one submission.
– Originality: Plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.
Competition Benefits and Timeline:
1. Prizes:
– Winner: N200,000
– 1st Runner Up: N150,000
– 2nd Runner Up: N100,000
2. Internship Opportunity:
– In addition to cash prizes, winners have the exclusive opportunity to intern with Pentagon Partners, enhancing their career prospects.
Application Procedure:
– Interested participants should submit their essays to essay@pentagonpartnerslp.com during the submission period.
– The subject of the email should be the Essay topic
For additional information and updates, visit www.pentagonpartnerslp.com.
Deadline: March 22nd, 2024
Don’t miss this chance to showcase your legal expertise, contribute to important discussions on AI and law, and vie for enticing cash prizes. Pentagon Partners looks forward to receiving your submissions.
Purpose:
Inaugurated in 2020, the CDEC is part of SystemSpecs’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment to promoting capacity development in the Nigerian ICT industry. By encouraging young Nigerians to tackle everyday issues, the competition contributes to intellectual growth and societal progress.
Topic:
The theme for the 2024 competition is “Protecting the Nigerian Child from the Dangers of Online Technology.” Participants are tasked with exploring strategies to safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.
Eligibility:
– Open to primary and secondary school students in Nigeria aged 9 to 16.
– Junior category (ages 9 to 12) essays must not exceed 1,000 words.
– Senior category (ages 13 to 16) essays must not exceed 1,500 words.
Prizes:
– Winners will receive generous rewards, including a high-capacity laptop, premium headphones, a portable laptop stand, a smart wristwatch, and one year of internet data, among other items.
– Consolation prizes will be awarded to other participants.
Application Process:
– Interested candidates should access the application page
– Essays must be written in English and reflect original thought.
– Each participant is limited to one entry.
– Entries must be endorsed by an accredited school official, parent, or legal guardian.
– Deadline for submissions is April 12, 2024.
Submission Guidelines:
– All submissions must be in PDF format and include the student’s name, home and school addresses, email address, and contact phone number.
– Double entries will result in automatic disqualification.
– Submissions must be received by March 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Notification of Winners:
– Successful students and schools will be contacted in the second quarter of the year.
– Updates on winners will be announced on @nercng social media platforms.
The SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition offers a unique opportunity for Nigerian students to demonstrate their creativity and problem-solving skills. By addressing the theme of online child protection, participants contribute to building a safer and more secure digital environment for all. We encourage eligible students to seize this opportunity and showcase their talent and ingenuity.
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