"70 Years of Acting" Veteran Actor Lee Soon-jae Passes Away

Veteran actor Lee Soon-jae passed away in the early hours of the 25th at the age of 91. He was regarded as the oldest active actor in the country, continuing his acting career for 70 years and being recognized as a living witness to Korean cinema, television, and theater. Recently, his health had deteriorated, leading him to temporarily suspend his work, and he quietly ended his life surrounded by family.

Lee Soon-jae was born in 1934 in Hyesan, North Hamgyong Province, and moved to Seoul at the age of 4 with his grandparents. While studying philosophy at Seoul National University, he became captivated by Laurence Olivier's film 〈Hamlet〉 and decided to pursue a career as an actor. He debuted in 1956 with the play 'Beyond the Horizon' and made a significant mark in the domestic broadcasting industry as a first-generation exclusive actor for TBC starting in the 1960s. He gained immense popularity for his role as 'Daebal's Father' in the drama 〈What is Love〉, and showcased a strong presence in historical dramas such as 〈Heo Jun〉, 〈Sang-do〉, and 〈Lee San〉.

Even after the 2000s, he displayed comedic acting in the sitcom 〈High Kick Without Hesitation〉, and in the variety show 〈Grandpa Over Flowers〉, he was loved across generations as a national actor with a friendly image. He continued to be active on stage with plays such as 'Waiting for Godot', 'King Lear', and 'The Seagull', earning him the title of 'Eternal Active Actor'.

In 1992, he entered politics by running as a candidate for the ruling Democratic Liberal Party in the 14th National Assembly election and was elected. He also dedicated himself to nurturing future talent as a distinguished professor in the Department of Acting at Gachon University until recently.

Despite his old age, Lee Soon-jae continued to perform on stage and television without rest, but recently took a break due to health issues, yet he never let go of his passion for acting. The schedule for the funeral and burial is currently being coordinated with his family and agency.