KBS: "Lee Soonjae Was Half a Century of Drama History... Memorial Space Set Up at Headquarters"

Memorial space for the late Lee Soonjae set up on the 2nd floor of the KBS main building. Provided by KBS

Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) expressed deep condolences on November 25 for the passing of veteran actor Lee Soonjae, who died early that morning.

On this day, KBS released a statement titled "In Memory of Teacher Lee Soonjae: His Footsteps Were the History of Korean Drama," saying, "We extend our deepest condolences to the late Lee Soonjae and his bereaved family," and added, "He was someone who wrote the history of Korean drama through his lifelong passionate acting career."

Lee Soonjae debuted in 1965 as a first-generation exclusive actor for TBC, before the spread of color TV, and was known as the "oldest active actor," having worked for over half a century. He contributed to elevating the quality of Korean TV dramas alongside the advancement of broadcasting technology and received public affection for his performances that transcended generations.

KBS honored his contributions by mentioning his representative works. He was active in various productions, including "Pungun," "Ordinary People," "Men of the Bathhouse," and "Mom's Dead Upset" from the 1980s to the 2000s, as well as "Dog Sound," which aired in 2024. In particular, KBS highly praised his passion for acting at the age of ninety in "Dog Sound" last year and selected Lee Soonjae as the oldest recipient in the history of the KBS Drama Awards.

KBS also prepared special programming to commemorate the late actor together with viewers. KBS 2TV will air "Memorial Special: National Actor Lee Soonjae Dog Sound Episodes 1-4 Marathon" starting at 10:45 p.m. on November 25, and "Memorial Special: National Actor Lee Soonjae Ten Minutes, Your Trivial" at 11:10 p.m. on November 26. KBSN will broadcast episodes 1-6 of "Dog Sound" consecutively from 10:00 a.m. on November 27, and episodes 7-12 from 10:00 a.m. on November 28.

A memorial space for the late actor has been set up on the 2nd floor of the KBS main building in Yeouido, Seoul, and is open to the public for condolences. It will be operated until November 30. KBS stated, "We have established an incense altar to honor the artistic achievements and dedication of the late actor, who contributed to the development of Korean broadcasting for over half a century," and added, "We hope to provide a time of mourning for viewers and staff who remember him."