Veteran actor Lee Soon-jae, a towering figure in Korean theater, dramas and films for nearly seven decades, died on Tuesday at age 91. He had been battling health issues since late last year, stepping away from acting. His family confirmed the news.
Lee Soon-jae was born in November 1934 in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, now North Korea, and moved to Seoul at age 4 before the 1950-53 Korean War. After graduating from Seoul National University with a philosophy degree, he made his stage debut in 1956 with the play 'Beyond the Horizon' during his college years. Starting at HLKZ-TV, Korea's first television station, he joined KBS's inaugural actor class in 1960, becoming a living history of Korean broadcasting.
His seven-decade career spanned theater, film and television, with roles in 140 TV dramas. Early on, he was known for authoritative figures, winning Best Actor at the 1971 Buil Film Awards for 'Bun-Rye's Story.' He gained fame as a strict father in the 1991-92 MBC hit 'What on Earth is Love,' which peaked at 65 percent viewership, and starred in historical dramas like 'The Legendary Doctor Hur Jun' (1999), 'The Merchant' (2001) and 'Lee San, Wind of the Palace' (2007).
In his 70s, Lee transformed into a comedic icon in MBC sitcoms 'High Kick!' (2006-07) and 'High Kick Through the Roof' (2009-10), earning the nickname 'Yadong Soon-jae' for a memorable scene. His youthful energy shone in tvN's 'Grandpas Over Flowers' (2013-2018), where his brisk pace led to 'Straight-ahead Soon-jae.' At 87, he played King Lear in 2021. Last year, he won the Grand Prize at the KBS Drama Awards for 'Dog Knows Everything,' becoming the oldest sole recipient.
He briefly served as a lawmaker in the 14th National Assembly (1992-1996) for the Democratic Liberal Party. Health issues forced him to withdraw from the play 'Waiting for Waiting for Godot' in October 2024. President Lee Jae-myung mourned him as a 'great star' who brought 'laughter, emotion, comfort and courage' to all. In a 2016 interview, Lee said, 'Acting, as an artistic act of creation, has no endpoint in one's lifetime.'
Colleagues paid tribute: Veteran actress Park Jeong-ja, 83, who co-starred in the 2023 play 'Salut D'Amour,' said, 'He poured his entire body and heart into every role... I believe he accomplished it all.' Bae Jung-nam, from 'Dog Knows Everything,' wrote on Instagram, 'Rest in Peace, Sir... It was the greatest honor.' Producer Na Young-seok recalled Lee's desire to perform until the end, calling him a role model.
