'Parasite' star Lee Sun-kyun's alleged blackmailer arrested

SHAH ALAM - A woman suspected of blackmailing South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun was arrested by the Korean police, late Wednesday, a few hours after he was found dead in an apparent suicide.

Korean English daily Korea Herald quoted reports saying that the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency detained the suspect in her 20s after she failed to show up at the Incheon District Court on Tuesday for a scheduled substantive review of her arrest warrant.

The report stated that she had been put behind bars pending her scheduled warrant review on Thursday.

For the record, in Korea, the process of a substantive review allows the individual the police is seeking to arrest to present their case before a judge.

It was reported that the suspect had allegedly blackmailed Lee and extorted 50 million won ($38,700) from him.

Previously, reports stated that Lee claimed that he was being threatened by the suspect and a 29-year-old hostess from a high-end bar.

He claimed that the duo had extorted 350 million won from him.

He also underwent three rounds of police questioning on alleged drug abuse from Oct 28. He had maintained his innocence.

Lee, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film "Parasite", was found dead on Wednesday in an apparent suicide, Yonhap news agency reported, citing police.

It was reported that the actor was discovered inside a vehicle at a park in central Seoul, along with a burning charcoal briquette.

Lee had been under police investigation over his alleged use of marijuana and other psychoactive drugs.

Previously celebrated for his wholesome image, local news outlets reported that the actor was being dropped from television and commercial projects following his drug scandal.