Lee Seung-jae, a legendary South Korean actor, passed away at 91, leaving a lasting legacy in theater, film, and television.
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Lee Seung-jae, a living witness of Korean actor history, was a 'natural actor' regardless of genre. Active in theater, traditional historical dramas, sitcoms, movies, and variety shows, he never left the stage until just before his passing, leaving a deep impression on junior actors. Born in 1934 in Hamgyeongbuk-do, he grew up in Seoul from the age of 4. While attending Seoul National University’s philosophy department in 1956, he rebuilt the drama club with Shin Yong-kyun, Lee Nak-hoon, and Hwang Eun-jin, officially entering the acting world. He debuted in the play 'Beyond the Horizon' that year and became known for appearing in Korea's first TV drama 'Blue Horizon' the following year. He then worked as a TBC exclusive actor, appearing in over 100 dramas. Until the 1980s, he showcased supporting roles in various works. At 57, in 1991, he played the role of Lee Byung-ho, the president of a printing company, in the MBC drama 'What is Love?' leaving a strong impression as 'the father of Devari,' marking a turning point in his life. Following the popularity of this work, he ran for and was elected in the '14th National Assembly election' in 1992, also engaging in politics. Even during his political activities, he continued acting, appearing in dramas like 'Ambition,' 'Farewell,' and 'People of the Bathhouse,' and after retiring from politics in 1996, he focused again on his acting career. In 1999, he refreshed his image with MBC's 'Ho-Jun,' handling a wide range of historical dramas like 'Merchant,' 'Jang Hee-bin,' 'Immortal Lee Sun-shin,' and 'Lee San,' becoming a central figure in Korean dramas. In 2006, he experienced another turning point with the MBC sitcom 'High Kick!' shedding his strict image and gaining new support from younger generations as the difficult yet somewhat quirky director of a herbal medicine clinic, earning the nickname 'Erotic Video Seung-jae.' He won the grand prize at the 'MBC Broadcasting Entertainment Awards' for this work and became an 'icon of intergenerational exchange' with his delightful performance in the sequel 'High Kick Through the Roof!' He continued to portray warm elderly characters in works like 'Beethoven Virus' and 'I Love You,' deeply moving audiences. In 2013, he appeared in the tvN variety show 'Grandpas Over Flowers' with Shin Gu, Park Gun-hyung, and Baek Il-seob, expanding his activities into variety shows and earning the nickname 'National Grandpa,' reaching a new peak. Nevertheless, Lee Seung-jae's true stage was still theater. Despite his old age, he stood on stage without considering the burden, particularly in the 2021 play 'King Lear' at 87, where he stood barefoot for 200 minutes, perfectly delivering a vast number of lines, astonishing the audience. Last year, he also took the stage in the play 'Waiting for Godot,' but due to health deterioration, some performances were canceled, raising concerns among people. At that time, he expressed his desire to respond by standing on stage again in good health, but he had to withdraw from the work based on the doctor's judgment. Lee Seung-jae's passion for acting never waned until the end. He played himself in the 2024 KBS drama 'Voice of the Dog,' where he hears the voice of a dog, leaving a deep impression again, and won the grand prize at the 'KBS Acting Awards' that year, recorded as the oldest recipient in history. At that time, Lee Seung-jae remarked, 'I was preparing for a chance to come someday, and I am grateful to receive such a precious award.' In 2025, he was also nominated in the actor category at the 'Korean PD Awards,' but could not attend the award ceremony due to health issues. Lee Seung-jae, who continued to stand on stage at 70 with sitcoms and at 90 with theater, never stopped his acting journey, and his actor life will be long remembered as a part of Korean popular culture history. - National actor Lee Seung-jae passed away today at 91. - Lee Seung-jae's last award speech, filled with tears, draws attention: 'I was helped by the viewers.' - Girls' Generation's Taeyeon pays tribute to Lee Seung-jae with a nostalgic photo.
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