Police have started looking into the handling of a drug investigation of late actor Lee Sun-kyun, officials said Thursday, after a group of filmmakers and actors urged for an inquiry into his death.

Lee, best known for his role in "Parasite," was found dead in his car in central Seoul on Dec. 27, days after he publicly appeared before the police for the third round of questioning on suspicions of using marijuana and other illegal drugs on multiple occasions.

Lee's death raised questions about whether the police compelled him to stand on the press photo line before his questioning sessions and whether Lee deserved the privacy-infringing media reports that followed the investigation.

The anti-corruption and financial crime unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police said it has been tasked with looking into how the investigation into Lee was leaked to the public.

Lee had claimed his innocence over the drug suspicions, and drug tests conducted on him were negative.

Last week, a group of filmmakers, actors and artists, including "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho, issued a statement urging a probe to get to the bottom of Lee's death.

At the press conference, Bong called for a "thorough" investigation on whether there was any fault in the security of the police's handling of the information regarding the investigation on Lee.