Actor Lee Soon-jae, who ventured into directing with the play “The Seagull” in 2022, passed away at the age of 91 early on the 25th. Over his 70-year acting career, he was adored across generations. Despite efforts to recover while undergoing medical treatment after his health declined last year, he eventually passed away.
Born in a small village in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, in 1935, the late actor experienced the Korean War while in his first year of high school. After fleeing, he settled in Daejeon. He initially aimed to study Political Science at Seoul National University but was unsuccessful. He isolated himself to focus and succeeded in entering the Philosophy department the following year.
While studying philosophy, he debuted in 1956 with the play “Beyond the Horizon” through a minor role. His role as Mercutio in “Romeo and Juliet” marked his serious entry into the acting profession.
Lee Soon-jae didn’t pursue stardom but was consistently present in the media with a saying, “Every time you turn on the TV, there’s Lee Soon-jae.” Although he didn’t receive many awards, he never paused his acting career, even filming the drama “What’s Love” while involved in politics. Over his career, he took on about 400 roles.
His versatility saw him playing varied roles, including over 30 villain characters. He was particularly active in historical dramas like “Hur Jun” and “Yi San” and captivated audiences as the character “Yadong Soon-jae” in the sitcom “Unstoppable High Kick.” On variety shows like “Grandpas Over Flowers,” he showcased his warm, personal side.
In the later stages of his career, he revisited the theater, staging “King Lear” in 2021 and 2023, fulfilling his unachieved desire to perform in Shakespeare’s four great tragedies. “King Lear” was a sold-out success with resonant messages for modern society.
In 2022, he engaged audiences as both director and actor (playing Sorin) in the play “The Seagull,” earning him the titles of both the “oldest active actor” and the “oldest rookie director.”
Despite his longstanding career, Lee Soon-jae felt that acting was endless, with no completion, only new challenges, creativity, and effort. He aimed to continue as long as he could memorize lines.
In addition to acting, he also contributed to the cultural and arts community, serving as the first president of the Actors’ Association in 1971 and nurturing future generations as an honorary professor at Sejong University and Gachon University. He was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in 2002.
The moment of glory for the actor, who rarely received awards, came in January 2025 when he won the Grand Prize at the ‘2024 KBS Drama Awards’ for the KBS 2TV drama “Dog Sound,” making him the oldest recipient of the award across the three major networks. He attributed the honor to his devoted audience.
In 2025, celebrating his 70th debut anniversary, he was preparing for “Death of a Salesman” with fellow actor Park Geun-hyung. However, after collapsing while performing “Waiting for Godot,” he left this world, leaving behind the diligent and persistent life of a theater actor, much like a salesman.
Reflecting on his life, Lee Soon-jae once remarked on how the whiteness of his hair allowed audiences to resonate with his roles. Even though he never played a lead role, he became a significant backdrop and sentiment in Korean theater. Despite the financial struggles of being an actor in Korea, he believed that theater was an essential condition for becoming a good actor and a space for growth and experience.