The late Lee Soon-jae's funeral service… why the eulogy by Ha Ji-won, who was the fan club president, felt especially heart-wrenching
The late Lee Soon-jae, the oldest active actor and a living testament to Korean broadcasting, has passed into eternal rest. The wreaths and tributes from juniors who worked with him plunged the funeral hall into deep silence. Among them, the eulogy left by actress Ha Ji-won moved many people's hearts.
At 5:30 a.m. on the 27th, the deceased's funeral service was held at the Asan Medical Center funeral hall in Songpa District, Seoul. He, who died at 91, debuted in the play 'Beyond the Horizon' and then delivered a career-spanning acting life in numerous masterpieces such as 'Donguibogam', 'Heo Jun', 'Yi San', 'High Kick Through the Roof', and 'High Kick!'
#. "I still can't believe it"… Ha Ji-won's trembling voice
Above all, Ha Ji-won in her funeral eulogy could not finish speaking, saying, "Even now I feel like I can hear teacher's voice somewhere." He first met the deceased through the drama 'You�' and afterwards showed such special affection that he called himself Lee Soon-jae's 'fan club president.'
Ha Ji-won said this: "Teacher always watched over me with a quiet but warm gaze. His honesty and humility in saying that acting is still difficult were lessons I will never forget in my life." That is precisely why she described the deceased as "an actor who represented Korea" and "the greatest teacher who showed how to live as an actor."
Earlier, on the tvN program You Quiz on the Block that aired in April last year, Lee Soon-jae mentioned the story of a fan club that formed 68 years after his debut.
When Yoo Jae-suk, surprised, asked for the name, at the time Lee Soon-jae calmly said, "I heard Ha Ji-won is the fan club president." He recalled the cold during the filming of 'The King 2 Hearts' and praised her, saying, "Ha Ji-won wore thin clothes and never complained. Such a good young woman."
The letter Ha Ji-won sent at that time is still talked about long after. She wrote, "Teacher continued acting silently even in poor conditions. I was greatly impressed by that. I am not a mere fan but someone who truly respects the teacher." This letter already showed that the two's connection at the time was not simply 'senior and junior.'
#. Why did Ha Ji-won's eulogy resonate more deeply?
The reason many people felt especially heavy-hearted by Ha Ji-won's eulogy was simple: her feelings when recalling the deceased were sincere. The image of Lee Soon-jae silently acting through harsh filming conditions, and Ha Ji-won's emotions as a 'fan' and a 'junior' who watched that figure up close — all these memories were conveyed exactly as they were.
It was also significant that a disciple personally testified to the 'teacher's' lifelong humility before acting. Ha Ji-won's direct observations revealed the human side of 'actor Lee Soon-jae,' saying, "the teacher's honesty in still saying acting is difficult" and "his appearance of never stopping questioning and exploring art." She was also the person who most clearly spoke of the legacy of being a 'good elder' left by Lee Soon-jae. In Ha Ji-won's words were contained "what kind of person he was" and "why he was a lifelong teacher to Korean actors."
#. "Teacher, I will not forget the heart of an actor and will live by it"
Ha Ji-won concluded her eulogy with this pledge: "I will continuously practice the heart and attitude I learned from the teacher in my future works and life." That one sentence brought tears to people from the 'High Kick' generation to all viewers who grew up watching the deceased's acting.
A single actor who sincerely acted in every work over the past 70 years. And disciples who genuinely followed him. Through Ha Ji-won's voice, it reminded us once again that more than being a good actor, the greater thing was being a good elder. The name Lee Soon-jae will remain forever in the hearts of juniors and viewers.
[Photo] You Quiz on the Block, photo joint press corps
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