Renowned as the oldest active actor, Lee Soon-jae has passed away at the age of 91. A memorial has been set up at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul. Discussions are underway among four organizations to determine the details of his funeral.
According to the entertainment industry on the 25th, the family is coordinating with various actor organizations to prepare the funeral proceedings for the late Lee Soon-jae. Yoo Seung-bong, the president of the Korean Broadcasting Performers Association, stated, "Four organizations will gather in the morning to discuss the funeral arrangements for Lee Soon-jae." The meeting will include the Korean Broadcasting Performers Association, the Korean Broadcasting Performers Rights Association, the Korean Broadcasting Actors Union, and the Theater Actors Association.
The memorial is set to be held in Room 30 at the Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, with the burial site chosen as Eden Paradise in Icheon. Visitors will be able to pay their respects starting from 1 PM.
Born in 1934 in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, Lee moved to Seoul with his grandparents at the age of four. His official records list his birth year as 1935. He experienced liberation while helping his grandfather at Namdaemun Market and lived through the Korean War during his first year of high school.
His passion for acting was ignited during his time at Seoul National University, where he studied philosophy. The film 'Hamlet,' starring Laurence Olivier, was pivotal in his decision to pursue acting.
Debuting in 1956 with the play 'Beyond the Horizon,' he became a first-generation exclusive actor for TBC in 1965, growing alongside the history of Korean broadcasting. His notable works include over 140 productions such as 'I Want to Be Human,' 'Dongui Bogam,' 'The Era of Three Kims,' 'Men of the Bath House,' 'The Rustic Era,' 'Toji,' and 'Mom's Dead Upset.'
Particularly, his role as 'Daebal's Father' in 'What Is Love?' (1991-1992), which achieved a peak viewership rating of 65%, became a symbol of the patriarchal father. He consistently appeared in works from the 1970s and 80s like 'Song of the Blind,' 'Queen Inmok,' 'Wind and Cloud,' and 'Independence Gate,' and later showcased his prowess in historical dramas such as 'Hur Jun,' 'Sangdo,' and 'Yi San.'
Lee did not rest on his laurels. In his 70s, he broke away from his strict image with comedic roles in sitcoms 'High Kick!' and 'High Kick Through the Roof,' earning the nickname 'Yadong Soon-jae' and gaining popularity among younger audiences. On the variety show 'Grandpas Over Flowers,' he was known for his youthful energy and earned the nickname 'Straightforward Soon-jae.'
Approaching his 90s, he delivered profound performances in plays like 'The Long Life Shop,' 'My Grandfather Henri,' and 'King Lear,' where he flawlessly delivered 200 minutes of extensive dialogue, earning high praise. In 2023, he ventured into directing with Chekhov's 'The Seagull.'
Until last year, he continued to act in the play 'Waiting for Godot' and the drama 'Dog Sound,' passionately dedicating himself to his craft. He was named the oldest recipient of the Grand Prize at the KBS Drama Awards last year.
Beyond acting, Lee also served in politics as a member of the 14th National Assembly (Democratic Liberal Party), winning a seat in the 1992 general election for Seoul Jungnang-gap. Additionally, he was dedicated to education, serving as a chair professor in the Department of Performing Arts at Gachon University, guiding students until recently.
Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr