On January 23 KST, authorities investigating the alleged leak of investigative information regarding the late actor Lee Sun Gyun, who was under investigation for drug use, initiated a mandatory inquiry into investigative agencies and media outlets involved in reporting the case.

As per information from investigative authorities, the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency conducted a search and seizure operation at the Incheon Police Agency's drug crime investigation unit, which was handling the Lee Sun Gyun case, and media organizations that had reported on the investigation on January 22 KST.

During the operation, the police obtained the mobile phone of an employee from the Incheon Office's drug crime investigation team, along with related materials. The seized items will be subject to analysis to ascertain if there were any instances of investigative information being leaked from within the Incheon Office to specific media outlets.

Previously, the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency received a request for an investigation from the Incheon Police Agency on January 15 to probe the circumstances surrounding the leak of investigative information.

Before his tragic passing, Lee Sun Gyun had undergone police questioning three times since October of the preceding year on allegations of drug use. He had asserted his innocence, claiming he was deceived by the manager of an entertainment establishment into consuming drugs. However, due to extensive police inquiries and indiscriminate media reporting, he was discovered deceased in his car on December 27.