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Korean Acting Icon Lee Soon-jae Dies at 91, Tributes Follow

Funeral rites are scheduled at Asan Medical Center with burial in Icheon, drawing tributes from the president to peers.

Overview

  • Lee Soon-jae’s family confirmed he died early Tuesday at age 91 after a nearly seven-decade career across theater, television and film.
  • His agency said the funeral will be held at Asan Medical Center’s funeral hall, with a procession at 6:20 a.m. Thursday and burial at Eden Paradise in Icheon.
  • President Lee Jae Myung called him “a true national actor” in a public condolence, joined by remembrances from colleagues including Yoo Yeon-seok, Na Young-seok, Jeong Bo-seok and Bae Jung-nam.
  • A first-generation television star, Lee appeared in about 140 major dramas and became a cross-generational figure through series such as What Is Love?, Hur Jun, High Kick and Grandpas Over Flowers.
  • He reduced activities after withdrawing from a stage production in October 2024, made his final screen appearance in KBS’s Dog Knows Everything, and became the oldest recipient of the KBS Drama Awards’ grand prize in January 2025.