SEOUL- Lee Soon-jae, one of South Korea's most beloved and prolific actors whose seven-decade career was defined by enduring passion, died Tuesday, his family said. He was 91.
Lee, who was active in his acting career until late last year, was recognized across generations for his roles spanning from dramas, sitcoms and period pieces.
Born in 1934 in Hoeryong in what is now North Korea, Lee moved to Seoul at the age of 4 before the 1950-53 Korean War. Lee began acting when he attended Seoul National University, making his debut with the play "Beyond the Horizon" in 1956.
He went on to establish a prolific career, with extensive work in TV dramas, films and stage roles.
Lee gained widespread recognition for his role as an authoritarian and stern father in MBC's 1991 hit drama "What on Earth is Love." The fame he earned through the series helped him briefly enter politics, and he was elected as a lawmaker for the then ruling Democratic Liberal Party in 1992.
Even while serving in the National Assembly, the actor continued acting, starring in numerous TV series.
After retiring from politics in 1996, he refocused on acting with unwavering passion, appearing in a wide spectrum of dramas from period pieces to modern comedies.
His second prime came in 2006 when he took on the role of an eccentric yet unimposing Korean medicine clinic doctor in MBC's 2006 popular sitcom "High Kick!" and "High Kick Through the Roof" (2009), breaking away from the firm and strict image he had cultivated.
The role helped him build a more approachable image with younger audiences, the show's primary demographic.
Another career resurgence came in 2013 when he appeared in tvN's travel reality series "Grandpas Over Flowers." Through five seasons from 2013 to 2018, Lee displayed remarkable vitality and enthusiasm that belied his age, and his characteristically brisk walking pace earned him the nickname "Straight-ahead Soon-jae."
His passion for acting was especially evident in theater.
In 2021, at age 87, he drew enthusiastic applause from audiences by performing the title role in the Shakespearean play "King Lear," for over three hours.
Lee, however, dropped out of roles in October last year due to health issues. He became the oldest recipient to receive an award at the KBS Drama Awards in 2024.
During a 2016 interview with Yonhap News Agency, the actor said, "Acting, as an artistic act of creation, has no endpoint in one's lifetime, nor is it ever fully complete."
