Producer Na Young-seok on the 25th mourned veteran actor Lee Soon-jae (91), who died the same day. Na and the deceased had formed a connection through the travel variety show "Grandpas Over Flowers."
Na, ahead of a production presentation for Netflix's "Three Idiots in Kenya" that day, expressed condolences to the deceased.
Na said, "I was very shocked to hear the sad news in the morning," and "I wasn't able to see Teacher Lee Soon-jae over the past year because his health wasn't good." He also said, "I was so flustered by the sudden news." While conveying his condolences, Na at one point seemed overcome with emotion and could not continue.
Na said, "What Teacher most often told me during trips and in private was, 'I want to stay on stage until the end,'" adding, "Those words were a great example of working steadily and faithfully." He said, "I pray he can now rest comfortably in heaven."
Earlier, Na forged ties with the deceased and other veteran actors such as Shin Goo, Park Geun-hyung, and Baek Il-sub through the travel variety show "Grandpas Over Flowers," which first aired in 2013. The Grandpas Over Flowers series released a total of four installments through 2018.
The mourning altar for the late Lee Soon-jae is in Room 30 of the funeral hall at Asan Medical Center, and the funeral is at 6:20 a.m. on the 27th. The burial site is Eden Paradise in Icheon.