Actor Lee Soon-jae Passes Away at 91... A Life of Acting That Burned Bright in Sitcoms in His 70s and Theater in His 90s

Actor Lee Soon-jae passed away on the 25th at the age of 91. He held a unique position in Korean broadcasting history and burned with passion for acting across genres until the last moments of his life.

Born in 1934 in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, the late actor entered the world of acting by participating in the revival of the theater club while studying philosophy at Seoul National University in 1956. He made his acting debut that same year in the play 〈Beyond the Horizon〉 and took his first step onto the television stage with the drama 〈Blue Horizon〉, produced by the Korea Broadcasting System, the first television station in the country.

In the early years of his career as a TBC exclusive actor, he appeared in over 100 dramas, but until the 1980s, he mainly worked as a supporting actor. However, he reached a turning point in 1991 when he played the role of the patriarchal printing house owner Lee Byung-ho in the MBC drama 〈What is Love〉.

With this work recording the highest viewership rating of 59.6%, he gained national recognition and caused a surprise by running for the 14th National Assembly in 1992 and winning. Even during his political activities, he continued to appear in dramas such as 〈Ambition〉, 〈Farewell〉, and 〈Men of the Bathhouse〉.

After retiring from politics in 1996, he fully dedicated himself to acting and successfully transformed his image by playing the role of Lee Uitae, the mentor of Heo Jun, in the 1999 MBC drama 〈Heo Jun〉. He then actively participated in historical dramas such as 〈Sangdo〉, 〈Jang Hee-bin〉, 〈The Immortal Lee Soon-shin〉, 〈Lee San〉, and modern plays like 〈Heungbu's Family〉 as both a lead and supporting actor.

The 2006 MBC sitcom 〈High Kick Through the Roof〉 brought him a second prime. At the age of 72, despite the grueling filming schedule of airing five times a week, he shed his previously stiff and stern image and played a quirky but authoritative traditional medicine clinic director.

An episode where he was caught watching adult videos in front of relatives led to the nickname 'Adult Video Soon-jae'. Thanks to this, he gained the love of the main viewing demographic, the younger generation. He won the grand prize at the MBC Entertainment Awards for this work.

In 2008, he played a dementia-stricken oboe player in 〈Beethoven Virus〉, and in the 2011 film 〈I Love You〉, he portrayed a grumpy but warm-hearted old man, bringing tears to viewers' eyes. Additionally, in the sequel to 〈High Kick Through the Roof〉, titled 〈High Kick Through the Roof 2〉, he showcased the essence of comedic acting once again through a romance with the late Kim Ja-ok.

In 2013, he ventured into the entertainment realm with tvN's 〈Grandpa Over Flowers〉, and even at nearly 80 years old, he was praised as a 'true elder' for studying or staying awake on planes instead of sleeping, and for his vigorous energy during filming. He led the team as the eldest brother in 〈Grandpa Over Flowers〉 in 2014, 2015, and 2018.

In his later years, he particularly stood out on the theater stage. At the age of 87 in 2021, he received rave reviews for perfectly delivering extensive lines barefoot with his hair down in the play 〈King Lear〉. Last year, he also took the stage in the play 〈Waiting for Godot〉, but canceled some performances due to health issues, raising public concern.

In the 2024 KBS drama 〈Dog Barking〉, he played a veteran actor who hears the voice of a dog, winning the grand prize at the KBS Acting Awards and setting the record for the oldest recipient ever. In his acceptance speech, he stated, "I have always been prepared, thinking that an opportunity would come someday."

He was named the recipient of the 2025 Korean PD Awards for Best Performer (Actor Category) but could not attend due to health deterioration. His passing, having never feared challenges and having served as a role model for junior actors across various genres, has led the entire entertainment industry to express its condolences.