[EPN NPinow reporter Go Nari] Actor Lee Sang-bo, 45, has died, a development that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry.
Police, responding to a family report, found Lee dead on the 26th. Authorities told reporters on the 27th that they are investigating the exact cause of death.
Born in 1981, Lee made his acting debut in 2006 on KBS2's drama Invisible Man Choi Jang-soo and went on to appear in series such as Daughter-in-Law's Heyday, Evil Love, JTBC's Private Life, KBS2's Miss Montecristo, and The Elegant Empire. He earned recognition for his performances as a central figure in Miss Montecristo and The Elegant Empire.
Lee also worked in film, showing range across genres with credits that include the Japanese film Kisarazu Cats' Eye World Series, Secretly, Greatly, and Mephisto.
He had recently signed with a new agency to prepare for a professional comeback and was reportedly in discussions about his next project, news that has deepened fans' sorrow.
In 2022, Lee was accused of drug use, but police later concluded there was insufficient evidence and declined to press charges, closing the case. During that period, he appeared on Channel S's Jin-gyeok-ui Unnideul — Gomin Cut Salon and described how hurt he was by media reports claiming “a male actor in his 40s had been arrested for drugs.”
After he was cleared, Lee did not abandon his acting ambitions; he resumed work and received support from many colleagues and fans.
Photo = Channel S 'Jin-gyeok-ui Unnideul'
