Popular Korean actor Lee Sang-bo has sadly passed away. He was just 44 years old.
Korean sources such as Star News and ChosunBiz confirmed the news, stating that the star had been found unresponsive and confirmed dead on March 26.
Police responded to the scene after Lee Sang-bo’s family reported an emergency. They are currently investigating the exact cause of his death, with one law enforcement officer telling reporters, “We are assessing the situation and the details.”
The actor’s fans took to his Instagram account to express their grief at his passing.
Lee Sang-bo’s Fans Want Him to ‘Rest in Peace’
Lee Sang-bo hadn’t been active on Instagram for a while, with no new posts in 2026. However, his fans took to his older posts to express their grief in their comments sections.
One fan wrote, “May his soul rest in peace.”
Another fan said (translated), “I hope you are happy with your family in a place free from pain and sorrow. May he rest in peace. 🙏”
Someone else said, “Rest in peace 🕊️.”
Per IMDb, Lee Sang-Bo was born on October 21, 1981 in Seoul, South Korea. He was known for his roles in the likes of the superhero series “Rugal,” the psychological thriller series “Private Lives,” the thriller series “Miss Monte-Cristo,” and the 2013 action comedy movie “Secretly Greatly.”
The Actor Had Experienced Legal Issues
Per the English-language Korean celebrity news site KPopPost.com, Lee Sang-bo had experienced legal issues in recent years.
In a September 2022 news story, the publication revealed police had arrested Lee Sang-bo in relation to a drug scandal. He had been captured on CCTV behaving peculiarly, and was ultimately found to have been under the influence of an illegal substance.
According to the report, the actor had fully cooperated in the drug arrest and admitted all charges. His admission meant investigators were able to proceed without detaining him to find out all the information and evidence needed to apprehend the distributors.
He had returned to acting work two years ago and signed an exclusive contract with a new agency in 2025, which represented a new beginning for the star.
That he was embarking on a fresh start makes his passing at such a young age all the more tragic. While no cause of death has been confirmed, we’re sure more details will emerge in the coming days.
In the meantime, we’d like to send our heartfelt condolences to Lee Sang-bo’s family and friends at this sad time. May he rest in eternal peace.
It’s such a tragic loss. I really enjoyed his work in ‘Parasite’ – he brought so much depth to the role.