The Late Lee Soon-jae Receives the Gold Medal of Culture... The Nation Recognizes His 70-Year Acting Career

The government honored the late actor Lee Soon-jae, who passed away on the 25th, with the first-class Gold Medal of Culture, celebrating his 70-year acting career.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young personally visited the mourning hall set up at the Seoul Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the evening of the 25th to present the Gold Medal of Culture to the bereaved family.

It is extremely rare for an actor to receive the Gold Medal of Culture. This is the third time in three years, following Youn Yuh-jung in 2021 and Lee Jung-jae in 2022. Lee Soon-jae was awarded the Silver Medal of Culture at the 2018 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards. The cultural medal is the highest national honor awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of culture and the enhancement of the public's cultural enjoyment.

In his memorial speech, Minister Choi stated, "He shared joys and sorrows with the people of Korea for 70 years, crossing over theater, film, and broadcasting," and added, "The footprints left by the deceased will be remembered forever."

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism explained the background of the award, stating, "Since debuting in the play 〈Beyond the Horizon〉 in 1956, he has been active as a senior actor in various fields for over half a century, writing the living history of the Korean entertainment industry."

Additionally, it stated, "Through over 140 works, he received love from all generations with authentic performances across genres such as dramas, plays, variety shows, and sitcoms," and added, "He was a true cultural artist who fulfilled his responsibilities not only in the arts but also in society through nurturing future generations and legislative activities."