SEOUL: 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 here said on Saturday.

South Koreans were stunned to learn that the victim was the brother of Lee Dong-Gun, a popular actor, with Internet portals 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, New South Wales state police said.

Two teenagers were Thursday charged with the murder, Australian Associated Press reported.

Lee's brother was studying in Sydney, South Korean police said.

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 here 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 here and in Asia and has starred in a number of hit movies and TV dramas.


- AFP/so