Legendary Actor Lee Soon-jae Passes Away at 91; Taeyeon Pays Tribute with Heartfelt Photo

Renowned as the oldest active actor, Lee Soon-jae has passed away at the age of 91. Singer Taeyeon paid tribute by sharing a photo with the late actor.

On the 25th, Taeyeon posted a picture on her social media featuring herself with Lee Soon-jae and Yuri, a member of the group Girls' Generation. In the photo, they are all smiling brightly. Yuri had previously worked with Lee Soon-jae in the 2019 play 'Grandpa Henri and I.'(앙리 할아버지와 나) It seems Taeyeon formed a connection with Lee Soon-jae when she attended the play to support Yuri.

According to the family, Lee Soon-jae passed away in the early hours of the 25th. The funeral arrangements have not yet been made. Concerns about his health had been circulating since last year.

Lee Soon-jae was celebrated for his unwavering dedication to acting, performing across television, film, and theater. He remained active until recently, appearing in the play 'Waiting for Waiting for Godot' and the KBS 2TV drama 'Dog Knows Everything.'

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 the liberation of Korea 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,' Lee became a first-generation exclusive actor for TBC in 1965, growing alongside the history of Korean broadcasting. His extensive filmography includes over 140 major works such as 'I Want to Be Human,' 'Dongui Bogam,' 'The Three Kim Era,' 'Men of the Bath House,' 'Rustic Period,' 'Toji,' and 'Mom's Dead Upset.'

Notably, his role as the patriarchal father in 'What Is Love?' (1991-1992), which achieved a peak viewership rating of 65%, became iconic. He consistently appeared in works from the 1970s and 80s, including 'Song of the Swords,' 'Queen Inmok,' 'Wind and Cloud,' and 'Independence Gate,' and later excelled in historical dramas like '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' from younger audiences. On the variety show 'Grandpas Over Flowers,' his youthful energy and passion earned him the moniker 'Straightforward Soon-jae.'

Approaching his 90s, he delivered profound performances in plays like 'The Last Empress,' 'Grandpa Henri and I,' and 'King Lear,' where he flawlessly delivered 200 minutes of dialogue, receiving high praise. In 2023, he ventured into directing with Chekhov's 'The Seagull.'

Until last year, he continued to act in 'Waiting for Waiting for Godot' and the drama 'Dog Knows Everything,' 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 as a politician, being elected as a member of the 14th National Assembly (Democratic Liberal Party) in 1992, representing Seoul Jungnang-gap. Additionally, he was committed 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