Lee Soon Jae has passed away. He was 91. The veteran South Korean actor passed away peacefully in the early morning of November 25, 2025, according to his family. The location of the funeral has not been announced yet.
Lee remained an active and beloved figure across television, film and theater. Until very recently, he maintained a vibrant career, starring in stage productions like Surely Tomorrow and the KBS 2TV drama Dog Knows Everything.
Born in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province (now North Korea) in 1934, Lee moved to Seoul with his grandparents at the age of four. His official birth year on record is 1935. Lee constantly expanded his repertoire and refused to be typecast, despite already being an established and respected actor.
He famously shed his solemn, authoritative image in his 70s to embrace comedy, garnering immense love from younger generations for his roles in the hit sitcoms High Kick! (2006) and High Kick Through the Roof (2009).
His career also extended into public service. In the 14th general election in 1992, he ran as a candidate for the ruling Democratic Liberal Party in Seoul’s Jungnang district and was elected to the National Assembly. During his tenure, he served as the party’s deputy spokesperson.
Concerns about the actor’s health had been circulating since late last year. He was forced to cancel scheduled performances for the play Surely Tomorrow due to health issues and was unable to attend the 37th Korea PD Awards ceremony held in April of this year.
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