The renowned first-generation Korean stage actress Yoon Seok-hwa has passed away at the age of 69 following a battle with a brain tumor. Yoon Seok-hwa left this world on the morning of December 19 at 9:54 AM at Sinchon Severance Hospital in Seoul, surrounded by family and close associates.
After performing in the play “Hamlet” in July 2022, she underwent surgery for a malignant brain tumor in October of the same year. Her last stage appearance was a special 5-minute cameo in the play “Toccata” at the LG Arts Center in Seoul in 2023.
Born in Seoul in 1956, Yoon debuted with the play “Savor” in 1975 and gained popularity through her roles in “Agnes of God,” “Hamlet,” “A Letter to My Daughter,” and others. She was recognized as a pioneering star in the theatre world, standing alongside fellow actresses Son Sook and Park Jeong-ja as a leading female figure in the industry. Her coffee commercial featuring the line “I reveal my soft side, too” became widely popular.
Her prominent roles included playing jazz singer Melanie in the stage production “A Letter to My Daughter” (1992), Maria Callas in “Master Class” (1998), and Ophelia, Hamlet’s lover, in “Hamlet” in 2016 at the age of 60.
In addition to theater, she actively participated in different genres including musicals like “Guys and Dolls” (1994) and “The Last Empress” (1995) as well as drama such as “Miracle That We Met” (2018).
Yoon was also deeply involved in theater production and direction. In 2002, she co-founded the experimental theater “Jongmi-so” with architect Jang Yoon-kyu in Seoul Daehak-ro, where she introduced innovative performances until its closure in 2019 due to chronic financial difficulties, showcasing productions like “19 and 80” and “Wit.”
She directed the musical “Saturday Night Fever,” and her involvement in the production of “Top Hat” earned the Laurence Olivier Award in the UK.
Additionally, Yoon established the comprehensive entertainment company Dolcoot Company in 1995, producing the animated film “Hong Gil-dong 95,” and acquired the monthly performing arts magazine Gagok during a financial crisis, serving as its publisher from 1999.
A dedicated advocate for adoption culture, she adopted a son and daughter, consistently hosting charity concerts to raise funds for adoption causes.
Yoon won multiple awards, including four Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Actress, and received honors such as the Dong-A Theatre Award, Seoul Theater Festival Award, and the Lee Hae-rang Theatre Award. She was also recognized with the Presidential Citation in 2005 and the Republic of Korea Culture and Arts Award in the Theater and Dance category in 2009.
Her funeral will be held at the Sinchon Severance Hospital’s funeral hall. She is survived by her husband Kim Seok-ki, former representative of Joongang Comprehensive Financial Services, and their son and daughter.