TV
Late Actor Lee Soon-jae Posthumously Awarded South Korea's Highest Cultural Honor
On the 25th, the South Korean government posthumously awarded Lee Soon-jae the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit (1st Class). Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Chae Hwi-young, visited the funeral hall at Seoul Asan Medical Center to present the medal to the bereaved family. The medal was prominently displayed at the funeral, drawing attention.
Lee Soon-jae had previously received the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2018 and has now been honored with the highest distinction. This marks the first time an actor has received the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit since Youn Yuh-jung in 2021 and Lee Jung-jae in 2022.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism explained the reason for the award, stating, "Since debuting in the 1956 play 'Beyond the Horizon,'(지평선 너머) Lee Soon-jae has been a beloved veteran actor across generations, appearing in over 140 works including dramas, plays, variety shows, and sitcoms." They also praised him as a "cultural artist who practiced social responsibility beyond the arts through nurturing future talents and engaging in legislative activities."
On the morning of the 26th, a funeral service was held at the Seoul Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu. Lee, who was the oldest active actor, passed away in the early hours of the 25th at the age of 91. His funeral will be held on the 27th at 6:20 AM, and he will be laid to rest at Eden Paradise in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province.
Reported by Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia, wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr
