In particular, during the premiere of "Waiting for Godot and Waiting for Godot" last year, actor Lee Soon-jae played the role of Esther. However, Lee Soon-jae halted his activities and withdrew from the play following a doctor's recommendation that he needed a three-month break due to health issues in October of last year. Later, at the "2024 KBS Acting Awards" held at the end of the year, he received the grand prize for the drama "Dog Bark" and came onto the stage with the assistance of fellow actors Kim Yong-gun and Choi Soo-jong to provide an update on his condition.
However, at the 37th Korea PD Awards ceremony held in April this year, he did not make an appearance, and the representative from his agency accepted the award on his behalf, renewing speculation about his health. According to a report by OSEN at the time, while Lee Soon-jae's health has improved significantly, it was confirmed that he chose not to attend as he had difficulty moving and needed assistance from those around him. Nevertheless, due to his advanced age of 90 (born in 1934), the public continues to express concern about Lee Soon-jae's health.
Furthermore, since the premiere of "Waiting for Godot and Waiting for Godot" resulted in a full cancellation of the remaining performances after Lee Soon-jae's withdrawal, his story was mentioned several times during the re-run press conference. Choi Min-ho, who performed as Lee Soon-jae's partner during the premiere, said, "Last year, we couldn't complete the performance due to Lee Soon-jae's health issues. While it would be a lie to say there were no regrets, the health of the teacher is the priority, and it was a decision reached through discussion with many people. Because we shared every moment from practice to the performance, it would have been meaningless not to participate together."
He continued, "In this re-run, I tried to capture my understanding of the character I initially depicted while also incorporating new aspects alongside the teacher and seniors to make it clearer. I am making an effort to express a balance that many audience members can understand easily," hinting at a more developed portrayal.
When asked if he had received any advice from Lee Soon-jae, Park Geun-hyung, who is taking on the role of Esther in this re-run, replied, "I haven't heard any advice yet. Lee Soon-jae hasn't been informed of this news; I think he will learn about it when the reports come out," and added, "I believe he will have something to say during the performances."
He also mentioned regarding Lee Soon-jae's current status, "We tried to visit several times, but he was quite reluctant, so we couldn't meet. We heard about him from others at a distance, and it seems the situation isn't good."
Additionally, regarding Shin Gu, with whom he has also performed in "Waiting for Godot," he noted, "Shin Gu is still healthy. He jokingly expressed interest in making a cameo appearance in the performance," adding anticipation that there will be good productions in the future.
[Photo] OSEN DB, KBS
[OSEN]
[사진] OSEN DB, KBS
[OSEN]