R.C There is news that stops time in South Korea, and today is one of those days. We have not only lost an actor; We have lost the most faithful witness in the history of Korean entertainment. Lee Soon-Jae, affectionately known as the ‘grandfather of the nation‘And the eternal mentor of our favorite actors, has passed away this Tuesday November 25, 2025 to the 91 years old.
His departure marks the end of an era. from its beginnings in classical theater to becoming a viral icon for the GENERATION Z, , Lee Soon-Jae dedicated 69 years old to perfect an art that he himself defined as ‘always unfinished’.
Next, we review the extraordinary life of the man who taught us that it is never too late to reinvent himself.
The quiet goodbye to Lee Soon-Jae after a life of passion
As confirmed by his family and his agency, SG Way Entertainment, the actor died in the early hours of this Tuesday. read had been fighting health problems since the end of 2024, which sadly forced him to withdraw from the play ‘Waiting for Godot’ by medical recommendation.
Even though his agency had hopes of recovery in August, his health deteriorated, closing the curtain on an extraordinary life.
Details of the last goodbye: His funeral will take place at the Asan Medical Center on Songpa, , Seoul. The funeral procession will take place this Thursday at 6:20 a.m., and will be buried in the Eden Paradise on Icheon, Province of Gyeonggi.
Witness to the modern history of Korea
The life of Lee Soon-Jae is a map of Korean history of the last century. Born in November 1934 in Hoeryong (province of North Hamgyong, current North Korea), moved to Seoul at the young age of 4 years to live with their grandparents.
His youth was marked by the great conflicts of the nation, lived through the liberation of Korea. Being a schoolboy and, during his adolescence, he experienced the horrors of the Korean War (1950–1953), being forced to flee to the south, taking refuge in Daejeon with his family.
Despite the difficulties of the time, he entered the prestigious Seoul National University to study philosophy. It was there that he discovered his true vocation: after seeing ‘Hamlet’ of Laurence Olivier, decided that his path was acting. debuted on stage in 1956 with the work ‘Beyond the Horizon’ And, after graduating, he helped found the company ‘Experimental Theater’.
Television pioneer and king of rating
Lee Soon-Jae He did not only act on television; He helped build the industry.
- 1961: participated in the drama ‘I Will Become a Human’ (translated title from the original Korean one) for the launch of KBS-TV.
- 1964: He appeared in Korea’s first daily drama, ‘its snowing’.
For decades, he was the authority figure par excellence on the screen. On 1991, paralyzed the country with the weekend drama ‘What on Earth Is Love’. Playing a strict and traditional father (known as ‘Daebal’s father’), the drama reached a 65% historical rating.
It was also a fundamental pillar in the golden age of historical dramas (Sageuk), bringing gravity to classics like ‘Hur Jun’ (1999), ‘Sangdo’ (2001) and ‘Yi San’ (2007).
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The Great Reinvention: From Serious Patriarch to Pop Icon
What made Lee Soon-Jae a unique legend was his ability to adapt. at his 70 years old, broke with his solemn image, to connect with a new generation.
The phenomenon ‘High Kick!’ (2006-2007) In this famous sitcom, she played a grandfather who starred in hilarious moments. The most remembered earned him the viral nickname of ‘Yadong Soon-Jae’ (Porn Soon-Jae), for a scene where her character is discovered watching adult videos. Far from being offended, Lee Soon-Jae He hugged the comic character and won the hearts of young people.
Grandpas Over Flowers (2013) Its international popularity grew thanks to the travel reality show produced by na young-seok. There, the fans discovered the real read: A cultured man, who spoke English and Japanese fluently, and who always walked with energy leading the group, earning the nickname ‘Straight-Ahead Soon-Jae’ (Soon-Jae the one who goes straight).
‘If you sit down and demand respect just because you’re old, that’s when you really get stuck. As long as I can, I’ll do it.’. — Lee Soon-Jae.
his passage through the artist’s politics and defense
A key fact of his biography is his public service. Lee Soon-Jae He was a member of the National Assembly between 1992 and 1996. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in the Copyright Law Amendment , fighting for the interpreters to receive the legal recognition and the rights they deserved.
Lee struggled tirelessly for the recognition of the Interpreter and reproduction rights (known in industry as residuals). Thanks to their efforts, the foundations were laid for the actors to stop receiving a single payment and begin to be entitled to collect royalties for retransmissions and the secondary use of their works. After fulfilling his objective and his period, he decided not to seek re-election and return to his true home: acting.
The Last Daesang: A Finish On The Top
His career ended with maximum recognition. On 2024, starred in the drama of KBS ‘Dog Knows Everything’. His performance was so moving that he won the Grand Prix (Daesang) in the KBS Drama Awards.
It was a historic milestone: unlike other veterans who often receive honorary ‘trajectory’ awards, Lee Soon-Jae won by competing in the main category, surpassing much younger actors thanks to his brilliant performance in this last role. Through tears, he said:
‘I have lived long enough to see a day like this… I always prepared myself thinkingThe opportunity will come one day. I want to tell the viewers that I have depended on you, learned from you and received a lot from you my whole life.’:
Korea pays tribute
The entire nation is in mourning. The importance of Lee Soon-Jae It is such that even the president officially spoke out.
The President’s Message: President Lee Jae-Myung He expressed his deep condolences, calling the actor a ‘great star’ of Korean arts. In his official statement, he stated:
‘For him, acting was a channel to share the stories of our lives with the world and convey the essence of human experience… the works and the legacy that he leaves will remain as a precious cultural heritage of Korea.’
Official recognition: In addition to the words of the President, the Government has posthumously granted him the Order of Cultural Merit Geumgwan, the highest cultural honor in the nation.
Colleagues and stars: Pain was also felt in the K-pop industry and K-dramas. Taeyeon and Yuri of GIRLSgeneration They shared emotional photos remembering their time performing with him in theater. The actor Bae Jung-Nam, her co-star in her latest drama, wrote: ‘It was the greatest honor of my life to work with you’.
Lee Soon-Jae leaves a legacy of more than 140 main works and, in his own words, appeared in some 425 productions in total. He was a teacher, politician and, above all, an actor who never stopped learning.
Rest in peace, Master Lee Soon-Jae. Thank you for giving us a whole life of art.
❓ FAQs: 7 curiosities you (perhaps) did not know about Lee Soon-Jae
1. Is it true that Lee Soon-Jae dubbed a Disney-Pixar movie?
Yeah! And the paper fit him like a ring by finger. Lee Soon-Jae was the official voice in the Korean version of Carl Fredricksen, the grumpy grandfather of the film ‘UP’ (2009). His interpretation was so acclaimed that many local critics said he captured the character’s essence even better than the original version, thanks to his characteristic tone of voice: rough on the outside, but warm on the inside.
2. Who is your wife and why is your love story famous?
His wife is Choi Hee-Jung. Not a TV celebrity, but she was a prominent Korean classical dancer graduated from the University of Ewha. The romantic data: They married in 1966. The legend says that read He conquered her by writing her long love letters while she was on tour abroad dancing. choi He eventually sacrificed his career as a dancer to support the performance of read And raising their children, something that the actor always thanked publicly with great emotion.
3. Why did you stop smoking in 1982?
read He was an inveterate smoker, but his passion for acting was stronger than vice. On 1982, for historical drama ‘Poongwoon’, had to play the regent Heungseon Daewongun. The paper required shouting speeches and monologues of up to 4 minutes in a row No cuts. He realized that his throat couldn’t stand, so he left the cigarette overnight to protect his voice and achieve the perfect scene.
4. What was it like as a university professor?
Although on TV he was a tender grandfather, in the Sejong University (where he was a full professor since 1998) he was known as a ‘tiger master’. THE DATA: He was famous for being extremely strict with assistance and punctuality. He didn’t care if his students were already celebrities or idols famous; If they missed class or arrived late on their schedules, they would put an ‘F’ (failed) without hesitation. He firmly believed that ‘a celebrity does not deserve privileges in the classroom.’
5. Is it true that he did not use a manager?
For much of his career, yes. Unlike the current stars that move with a entourage of stylists and managers, Lee Soon-Jae He was famous for drive your own car to recording sets for decades, even being older. He did it because he didn’t want to bother others or anyone had to wait for him. He valued his independence over the comfort of Estrella.
6. What was your theater record at 88?
On 2021, set an impressive record by starring ‘King Lear’ (King Lear) by Shakespeare. Not only was he the oldest actor to play this role in Choreabut the work lasted 200 minutes (more than 3 hours). Lee Soon-Jae He was on stage almost all the time, reciting complex lines and loaded with emotion without a teleprompter, demonstrating a memory and physical resistance that 20-year-old actors would envy.
7. Have you ever directed any work?
Yes, and he did it almost at the end of his life, showing that he never stops learning. in the winter of 2022-2023, made his official debut as Theater Director with the classic ‘The Seagull’ (La Gaviota) A classic of Anton Chekhov. He said that he wanted to go back to basics and teach young actors the essence of naturalism in acting.
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