March 22, 2008 - 3:59PM
South Korean actor Lee Dong-gun poses in this promotional poster for a movie.
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Two in court over stabbing murder
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A South Korean student who was fatally stabbed in an attack in Sydney earlier this week was the brother of a top local actor, police in Seoul said today.
South Koreans were stunned to learn that the victim was the brother of Lee Dong-Gun, a popular actor, with internet sites flooded with messages of condolences from Lee's adoring fans.
Lee's 19-year-old brother died in the attack in the city centre in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Two men were later charged with the murder, as well serious wounding of a 20-year-old man, who was a freind of Lee's brother.
The friend remained in hospital with a serious stab wound to his upper body.
Lee's brother and his friend were both studying in Sydney.
Lee, 28, and his parents flew into Sydney on Thursday.
They broke down in tears after being told by Sydney police that the brother had died, news reports in Seoul said.
"He loved his brother so much. He was very proud of him. Whenever the brother returned home for vacations, he spent most of his time with the brother," an unidentified friend of Lee's was quoted as saying by Go News, an internet news provider.
Lee is one of the most popular South Korean actors and has starred in a number of hit movies and television dramas.
NSW police said the two South Korean students were attacked after an argument between them and a group of men near the World Square shopping centre, on the corner of Pitt and Liverpool streets, about 1am (AEDT) on Thursday.
The two men charged over the attack, 18-year-olds Michael Lee and Ivan Wong, both of Carlingford in Sydney's north-west, appeared in Parramatta Bail Court yesterday via videolink.
They faced charges of murder, causing wounding or grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, and common assault.
Neither applied for bail and it was formally refused.
Both are due to reappear at Central Local Court on March 25 for mention.
AAP/AFP
Source:http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/murdered-man-was-actors-brother/2008/03/22/1205602715099.html
