The oldest active actor in South Korea, Lee Soon-jae (born 1935), is once again surrounded by health concerns. A month ago, it was reported that his 'health has greatly improved,' but recently he has not appeared in public events or filming, raising fans' concerns.
Lee Soon-jae took a break for health reasons while actively participating in the KBS2 drama Grants in October of last year. Following his doctor's recommendation, he needed about three months of rest, during which he received much public concern and support.
Afterwards, Lee Soon-jae, who seemed to have recovered, appeared on stage to receive his first acting award at the 2024 KBS Acting Awards held at the end of last year. He said, "Living long like this, there are days like this," delivering a touching acceptance speech with his unique cheerful and warm demeanor.
However, he did not appear at the 37th Korean PD Awards ceremony in April, prompting further health concerns. The representative from his agency, Lee Seung-hee, noted, "The teacher is a bit uncomfortable, which is why he could not attend. He needs encouragement from many people."
In response, OSEN reported exclusively, citing a close acquaintance of Lee Soon-jae, that 'his health has greatly improved, and he is just somewhat uncomfortable moving.' The acquaintance stated, 'He has some weakness in his legs, making movement difficult, but his overall health has improved. He preferred to choose a proxy award instead of appearing on stage with assistance.'
However, just a month later, it was revealed that Lee Soon-jae did not participate in the filming of the 'High Kick Through the Roof' advertisement, raising fans' worries once again. In the recently released photos from the filming shared on social media, members including Jung Jo-seok, Oh Hyun-kyung, Julien Kang, and Jin Ji-hee were all present, but Lee Soon-jae, who played the father in the series, was absent. In connection with this, Jung Jo-seok expressed on his social media, 'I hope Teacher Lee Soon-jae gets better soon,' along with a prayer emoji to convey his longing.
Following his repeated absence from official schedules, netizens have expressed concerns, saying, 'A month ago, he said he got better, but now he is absent again,' 'Is he really okay?' and 'I hope to see him healthy again soon.'
These days, the absence of Lee Soon-jae is felt even more strongly, and many fans are eagerly hoping for his return to the stage and broadcasting in a healthy state.
[OSEN]