ENTERTAINMENT
tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' Pays Tribute to Late Actor Lee Soon-jae
On the 25th, 'You Quiz' shared a heartfelt message and photos on their official social media to honor Lee Soon-jae.
The message read, "Lee Soon-jae, who brought us great comfort and joy, has passed away." It continued, "As he once said, 'Acting is endless and never complete,' we will remember the teacher who never stopped challenging himself throughout his life." They added, "We hope he rests peacefully with his longtime colleagues. Our deepest condolences to the deceased."
The accompanying photos showed Lee Soon-jae during his appearance on 'You Quiz.' In April of last year, Lee reflected on his nearly 70-year acting career on the show. Known for rarely making mistakes, he humbly admitted, "There are times I make mistakes, but not in crucial scenes. If you diligently learn the script and rehearse before shooting, you can't make mistakes," showcasing his unwavering passion for acting even in his advanced age. He also stated, "For an actor, memory is a matter of pride. Forgetting lines is a disservice to colleagues and juniors."
Lee Soon-jae shared, "I try to improve my memory by memorizing the names of U.S. presidents," and added, "Acting is not easy. Even now, I sometimes wonder, 'How should I do this?'" He emphasized, "There may be masters of an era, but that is not the end of the art. It's about constantly challenging new things."
During the broadcast, Lee also reflected on death, remembering his close friends who had already passed away. Among them were Lee Nak-hoon, Kim Dong-hoon, Kim Sung-ok, Kim Soon-chul, and Oh Hyun-kyung, all part of the founding members of TBC. Lee remarked, "When I go, I can meet the six of them in the afterlife," and added, "Life and death are uncertain. We try, but effort alone doesn't guarantee anything." He concluded, "The happiest thing is to die while performing. Dying on stage is the happiest death for an actor, the happiest moment."
According to his family, Lee Soon-jae passed away in the early hours of the 25th at the age of 91. Concerns about his health had been growing since last year within and outside the entertainment industry.
Lee Soon-jae was the oldest active actor, consistently performing across television, film, and theater. He remained active until recently, appearing in the play 'Waiting for Godot' and the KBS 2TV drama 'Dog Sound.' With 'Dog Sound,' he became the oldest recipient of the Grand Prize at the KBS Drama Awards last year.
His funeral is being held at the Seoul Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall 30 in Songpa-gu, Seoul, with the service scheduled for 6:20 AM on the 27th. He will be laid to rest at Eden Paradise in Icheon.
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr
