Veteran Korean actor Lee Soon-jae, one of the nation’s oldest active actors, died at age 91.
On Tuesday, Nov. 25, Lee’s management agency, SG Way Entertainment, confirmed his passing in a statement, without disclosing the cause of death. Lee had withdrawn from the stage production “Waiting for Godot” and announced a temporary break from acting in October 2024 due to health concerns.
Lee began his career in theater in 1956 and transitioned to film and television, accumulating over 100 TV dramas and numerous films in his nearly seven-decade career.
His credits span generations of Korean entertainment, with memorable roles in series such as “Dongui Bogam,” “Men of the Bathhouse,” “What on Earth Is Love,” “Mom’s Dead Upset,” “High Kick!,”and “Again My Life.”
Lee most recently appeared in the 2024 drama “Dog Knows Everything,” a performance that earned him the Grand Prize at the KBS Drama Awards last January.
Lee briefly entered politics, serving as a member of the National Assembly in 1992.
Funeral details have not yet been announced.
