At 91, veteran actor Lee Soon-jae, the oldest active actor in Korea, is once again in the spotlight, not for a role, but due to growing concern over his declining health.
Lee Soon-jae: A Life Devoted to Acting, Now Shadowed by Health Concerns
Born in 1934, Lee has spent more than seven decades on stage and screen, becoming a pillar of the Korean acting community. But on April 15, his absence at the 37th Korean PD Awards raised public alarm. Though he had been honored in the actor category, Lee was unable to attend due to mobility issues.
Lee Seung-hee, CEO of his agency, accepted the award on his behalf and delivered a sobering update: “Mr. Lee Soon-jae couldn’t attend due to health concerns. He’s not doing well and is in need of support and encouragement.”
The emotional announcement quickly fueled speculation online, with fans fearing the actor’s condition may be more serious than reported. The agency later clarified that while Lee is not battling a specific illness, he is experiencing severe muscle loss, especially in his legs, making walking increasingly difficult. He is now resting and undergoing rehabilitation to regain strength.
A Legacy Built on Grit: Why Lee Soon-jae’s Health News Hits So Hard?
While some found comfort in the agency’s clarification, others cited Lee’s age and past health scares as cause for continued concern. In fact, just last year, he had to withdraw from the stage production of screenplay “Waiting for Godot” due to health issues, suspending all live performances.
His most recent public appearance came in January during the 2024 KBS Drama Awards, where he moved audiences to tears with an emotional acceptance speech after winning the Grand Prize (Daesang) for his role in “Dog Knows Everything“.
Lee has long been celebrated for his unwavering dedication to the craft of acting. Writer Choi Yeo-jung once recalled how, during a 2012 performance of “Le Père”, Lee suffered an injury on stage but finished the play with just a bandage—refusing to let down the audience.
Even more poignantly, in 2008, Lee lost his mother during the run of “A Life in the Theatre“. Yet he insisted, “Do not cancel tonight’s show. The stage is a promise with the audience, there are no exceptions” and performed as scheduled.
Now, the fact that a man who has endured grief and injury to remain on stage is stepping back has led many to believe his current condition may be grave. Still, fans and peers alike remain hopeful.
For over 70 years, Lee Soon-jae has stood as a towering figure in Korean entertainment, inspiring generations and leaving a legacy that transcends screens and stages. As he battles one of the most personal challenges of his life, the nation watches with admiration—and waits for the day he may once again return to the spotlight he so dearly loves.