화요일 오전 10시 20분, 한국 드라마계의 거성 김종학 PD가 분당의 한 고시텔에서 자살한 채 발견됐다고 경찰이 전했다.

김 PD(63)는 자신이 이틀간 머무르고 있던 고시텔 방안에서 번개탄을 피워 스스로 목숨을 끊은 뒤 빌딩 관리자에 의해 발견되었다. 현장에는 유서가 남겨 있었으며, 유서에는 가족에게 미안한 그의 마음이 담겨 있던 것으로 전해졌다.

김종학 PD는 지난 해 방영됐던 SBS 드라마 ‘신의’를 연출하면서 배우 출연로 미지급과 관련해 피소된바 있다. 고소인 중에는 조카인 한 연예기획사 운영대표가 포함되어있어 당시에 심적 압박을 받았던 것으로 예상된다.

김 PD는 ‘모래시계’와 ‘수사반장’의 흥행을 시작으로, 김종학 프로덕션 대표이사로 ‘태왕사신기’ 등의 연출을 맡았다.  (영문기사: 코리아헤럴드 조정은 기자, 한글: 임우정 인턴기자)

<관련 영문 기사>

TV producer found dead in apparent suicide

Kim Jong-hak, a star producer of hit Korean TV dramas, was found dead on Tuesday in an apparent suicide at a small rented room in Bundang, just outside Seoul, the police said.

The 62-year-old producer allegedly killed himself by deliberate smoke inhalation, according to reports. He was found lying on the bed by a building manager around 10 a.m.

Kim left a four-page note in which he apologized to his family. Kim didn’t mention his financial troubles or the accusations of fraud and embezzlement leveled against him in the note.

Kim was under police investigation after a group of actors and staff filed a complaint against him for embezzlement and fraud in May. Actors who appeared in his most recent TV drama, “Shinui,” accused Kim of not paying them, even after the drama ended late last year. Kim has denied the accusations. The police imposed an overseas travel ban on him.

The producer rose to fame in the 90s with his mega-hit dramas “Detective Inspector” and “Sandglass.” After his early success, Kim established his own production company and produced another series of hit dramas including “Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi.”

Kim has reportedly been suffering from financial troubles with “Shinui,” as it failed to make a profit.

By Cho Chung-un
(christory@heraldcorp.com)