SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - A steady stream of mourners from all walks of life are paying their last respects to actor Lee Soon-jae at a memorial altar in Seoul on Wednesday.
Lee, widely regarded as one of South Korea's most distinguished and prolific actors, died at the age of 91 at his home in the traditional wealthy district of Seongbuk-dong in northern Seoul the previous day, with his family by his side in his final moments.
His memorial altar set up at Asan Medical Center in southern Seoul has been visited by fellow actors, colleagues and political figures including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, reflecting his broad influence across various fields.
With an illustrious career spanning nearly seven decades in film, television, and theater, Lee worked tirelessly, appearing in more than 140 dramas, shows, and plays, and remained active as South Korea's oldest actor until sudden health issues forced him to step down late last year.
Born in 1934 in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, an area that is now part of North Korea, Lee moved to Seoul at the age of four. While studying philosophy at the country's most prestigious university, Seoul National University, Lee realized that acting was his calling and became a movie buff.
He chose an unconventional path, as elite students rarely pursued careers in the showbiz industry at the time. Captivated by British actor and director Laurence Olivier's performance in the 1948 cinematic adaptation of William Shakespeare's epic tragedy "Hamlet," Lee developed a passion for cinema, which eventually led him to make his acting debut in 1956 in a low-budget play adapted from "Beyond the Horizon" by American playwright Eugene O'Neill.
Lee began his professional acting career in 1965 as a contracted actor with TBC, one of South Korea’s early terrestrial broadcasters, and went on to appear in countless television programs, including dramas, sitcoms, and variety shows.
His acting career was catapulted when he appeared in MBC's megahit series "What Is Love" in 1991, thanks to his vivid portrayal of a traditional, conservative, stern father that reflected the social values of the time. The drama's popularity was so immense that nearly all the streets would empty whenever a new episode aired.
After a brief venture into politics in 1992, he returned to showbiz, enjoying another heyday in 2006 with sitcom "High Kick Through the Roof," where he revealed a different side of himself by playing a cranky but harmless elderly neighbor.
After a brief venture into politics in 1992, he returned to showbiz, taking his career to new heights in 2006 with sitcom "High Kick Through the Roof," where he revealed a different side of himself by playing a cranky but harmless elderly neighbor. He enjoyed another heyday in 2008 when cable channel tvN's reality show "Grandpas Over Flowers" became a viral hit.
Lee will be laid to rest at a cemetery in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province after a funeral service at the hospital on Thursday. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Meanwhile, the government posthumously awarded him the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the highest decoration given to individuals who have contributed to the development of Korean culture.
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