Lee Soon Jae has reportedly passed away. Before his death at the age of 92, he was the oldest actor still working. K-Drama fans have surely seen him in various series, including 'High Kick,' 'The Red Sleeve,' and most recently, 'Dog Knows Everything.'
According to The Chosun Daily, Lee Soon Jae passed away today (November 25, 2025). Despite his advanced age, the late actor remained active until late last year. After rumors of his health problems circulated, he began canceling his theater activities and focused on his recovery.
Born in 1934 in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, Lee moved to Seoul with his grandparents at the age of four. However, official family records list his birth year as 1935. Lee Soon Jae became interested in acting after enrolling in the philosophy department at Seoul National University.
At the time, he enjoyed watching films as a cheap form of student entertainment. After seeing Laurence Olivier's 'Hamlet,' he was inspired to pursue acting. He made his debut in 1956 with the drama "Beyond the Horizon."
He then became a TBC exclusive actor in 1965, appearing in various TV dramas, films, and stage plays. In total, Lee has appeared in over 140 works, sometimes appearing in over 30 works per month.
Despite reaching the peak of his career, Lee Soon Jae hasn't stopped expanding his acting spectrum. In his 70s, he appeared in the sitcoms "High Kick!" and "High Kick Through the Roof," shedding his "strict dad" image and earning praise for his comedic acting.
His character, "Yadong Soon Jae," made him popular among young fans. Besides dramas, Lee Soon Jae is also known for his variety show "Grandpas Over Flowers." There, the father of one displayed a fiery spirit that belied his age.
His agile gait earned him the nickname "Straightforward Soon Jae." Until he halted his activities last October, Lee Soon Jae continued to pursue his passion for acting. Last year, he became the oldest recipient of the Grand Prize at the KBS Drama Awards.
In his acceptance speech, the former lawmaker delivered an emotional final message. "After living for so long, I never thought I would experience a day like this. I want to tell all the viewers watching that I have relied on you and received so much help throughout my life,"
"After my first KBS drama 'I Will Become Human,' I didn't have many opportunities to appear on KBS, but I was always ready, thinking the opportunity would come someday, and today I was given this precious and beautiful award.
When actors turn 60, they all receive achievement awards. But even at 60, if you perform well, you receive an award. It's not an achievement award. This award doesn't belong to an individual," said Lee Soon Jae.
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