Korean veteran actor Lee Soon Jae passed away on Tuesday, November 25, at the age of 91, confirmed by his agency, SG Way Entertainment.
Lee Soon Jae was one of South Korea’s most famous and respected actors, with a career lasting more than 60 years. He appeared in around 140 major TV dramas, as well as many films and stage plays.
Born in 1934 in Hoeryong, now part of North Korea, his family moved to Seoul before the Korean War (1950–1953). He started acting while studying at Seoul National University and made his debut in the 1956 play Beyond the Horizon.
One of his most famous roles was in the family drama What Is Love? (1991–1992), which had a 65% viewership rating. He became well-known for playing strict, traditional father figures. He also starred in historical dramas like Hur Jun (1999) as the doctor Yoo Ui-tae, and appeared in Sangdo (2001) and Lee San (2007).