'Grandpas Over Flowers' Star Lee Soonjae Passes Away...A Lifelong Actor Who Shaped Korean Broadcasting History (Comprehensive)

69 Years Alongside the History of Korean Broadcasting
From "What Is Love?" to "High Kick!"
Active as the Oldest Working Actor

Passion for Acting Burned Bright: 'Eternal Active' Lee Soon-jae Passes Away Yonhap News

Lee Soonjae, who was the oldest active actor in Korea, passed away in the early morning of November 25. He was 91 years old.

According to his family, Lee maintained a rigorous health regimen even at an advanced age and continued his acting career across television, film, and theater without distinction between genres. He remained active until recently, appearing in the play "Waiting for Godot" and the KBS 2TV drama "Gaesori."

Born in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province in 1934, Lee moved to Seoul with his grandparents when he was four years old. He experienced Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule during elementary school and the Korean War in his first year of high school.

He discovered his passion for acting during his university years. After enrolling in the Department of Philosophy at Seoul National University, he became fascinated with watching movies, a popular and affordable pastime among students at the time. Inspired by Laurence Olivier's performance in the film "Hamlet," he decided to pursue a career as an actor.

Lee made his debut in 1956 with the play "Beyond the Horizon" and became a first-generation exclusive actor at TBC in 1965, making his mark on the history of Korean broadcasting. He appeared in approximately 140 major dramas, including "I Want to Be Human Too," "Dongui Bogam," "See and See Again," "The Era of Three Kims," "Men of the Bathhouse," "The Rustic Period," "Toji," and "Mom Has Grown Horns." Including minor roles, his appearances are countless. At times, he appeared in more than thirty productions in a single month.

'The Eternal Active Actor' Lee Soonjae, Who Burned with Passion for Acting, Passes Away

One of his representative works, the drama "What Is Love (1991-1992)," achieved a viewership rating of 65 percent. His portrayal of the patriarchal father "Daebal's Father" resonated with audiences in the social climate of the time.

Lee also led the golden age of historical dramas. He consistently appeared in period pieces throughout the 1970s and 1980s, such as "Mother's Song," "Queen Inmok," "Sangno," "Wind and Cloud," and "Independence Gate." He delivered charismatic and weighty performances in hits like "Hur Jun" (1999), "Sangdo" (2001), and "Yi San" (2007).

Although he had already reached the pinnacle of his craft as an actor, Lee continuously broadened his acting spectrum. Especially in his seventies, he broke away from his previously solemn image and received great affection for his comedic performances in sitcoms such as "High Kick!" (2006) and "High Kick Through the Roof" (2009). His character "Yadong Soonjae" even gained him a following among children.

On the variety show "Grandpas Over Flowers" (2013), he demonstrated tireless energy and passion that belied his age. His brisk walking earned him the nickname "Straightforward Soonjae."

Even as he approached his nineties, he never stopped challenging himself. Returning to the stage, Lee delivered passionate performances in plays such as "Salut D'Amour" (2016), "My Grandfather Henri" (2017), and "King Lear" (2021). In particular, his flawless delivery of the extensive lines in the 200-minute performance of "King Lear" was highly praised.

'The Eternal Active Actor' Lee Soonjae, Who Burned with Passion for Acting, Passes Away

In 2023, he made his debut as a director, staging Anton Chekhov's play "The Seagull" in a large theater with junior actors.

His passion for acting remained undiminished last year. Until he temporarily suspended his activities in October due to health issues, he continued to pour his soul into acting, appearing in the play "Waiting for Godot" and the KBS 2TV drama "Gaesori." In recognition of his achievements, he became the oldest recipient of the Grand Prize at the KBS Drama Awards last year.

Although Lee dedicated his entire life to acting, he briefly entered politics, serving as a member of the 14th National Assembly. In the 1992 general election, he was elected as the candidate for the then-ruling Democratic Liberal Party in the Jungnang-gap district of Seoul. He later served as the party's deputy spokesperson and as secretary of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union.

He also maintained a keen interest in aspiring actors, teaching students as a distinguished professor in the Department of Acting Arts at Gachon University until recently.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.