Late Actor Lee Soon-jae's Final Passion: Choosing the Stage Until the End
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Veteran Korean actor Lee Soon-jae's colleagues recalled his devotion to theatre in an MBC memorial documentary. Co-stars described his energy onstage during his last play Waiting for Godot (2024) and how he insisted on honoring the audience despite worsening health — finishing a 90-minute performance before being rushed to the ER. Fellow actors shared anecdotes: he once lay on a freezing floor for 16 hours during 1999 drama Huh Joon to preserve realism; he fulfilled a lifelong dream by starring in Shakespeare's King Lear at 87, even memorizing lines in English (English translation of Shakespeare lines); and he continued refining performances with greater passion as he aged. The documentary, planned with his permission earlier this year, was completed and aired as a tribute three days after his passing.
