The late Lee Soon-jae's passion for the stage until his final days and the parting words he left for his junior Park Geun-hyung, which resembled a "last will," have been revealed and struck a deep chord.
On the 28th episode of SBS My Little Old Boy, Park Geun-hyung, the eternal youngest of the "flower grandpas" and a romantic actor, appeared as a special MC. Remembering Lee Soon-jae, who passed away in November last year, Park Geun-hyung opened his remarks by saying, "I am heartbroken because we were together through thick and thin for decades. All the juniors are thinking about what the senior did for us and missing him."
The sudden farewell left deep regrets. Park Geun-hyung expressed his sorrow over not being able to say a final goodbye, saying, "After his health declined and he went to the hospital, I wasn't able to see him and he passed away. I'm so upset that I couldn't see his final moments."
In particular, that day he revealed the deceased's final request, which was like a "last will," drawing attention. Park Geun-hyung said, "He came to the theater and said, 'From now on, you should take charge of the theater world. Please work hard,'" and added, "Those words still remain in my heart," which brought a solemn mood to the studio. It was reported that before going to the hospital, the late man visited his junior's performances until the end to show his support, making the moment even more poignant.
Lee Soon-jae's philosophy and life toward acting were also fully revealed on episode 238 of tvN You Quiz on the Block, which aired last April. Speaking about the fan club that formed for the first time on his 68th anniversary since debut, he smiled and said, "In the past, actors were simply called 'ddanddara.' Even when I met people, I would hear things like, 'He's shorter than Shin Seong-il,'" but behind that was the solidity of someone who had endured a lifetime through acting.
Above all, he cited "language" as the most important virtue for an actor. He advised juniors, "An actor is the language of that country. You must be able to read the distinctions in pitch and rhythm, and both scholars and the uneducated must be able to understand," and urged, "Do not belittle yourself. You can rise step by step. Choi Min-sik, Song Kang-ho, and Don Lee all rose that way. You must have the conviction that you can become anything."
He also said, "The happiest thing is to die performing. The happiest death is to collapse on the stage," and even past 90 he never let go of dramas, theater and lectures. As he put it, "I ran relentlessly. That is the joy and the reward," he wanted to live by "acting" itself until the end.
Lee Soon-jae passed away on the 25th. He was 91. His final work was the KBS2 drama Gaesori, and with this work he received his first KBS acting award in his 68th year since debut. In his acceptance speech he said in a trembling voice, "Living long brings days like this. Acting must be judged by acting," and added, "I have been indebted my whole life. Thank you," leaving a deep impression.
This scene was revisited in a recent MBC documentary tribute special, Actor Lee Soon-jae, I have been indebted. The documentary revealed the late man's image holding the trophy for the 2024 KBS acting awards at his bedside, saying, "It's heavy..." In that brief remark were the weight of 70 years of acting, the craving for his work, and the actor's desire not to leave the set until the end.
An actor who dreamed of the stage until the day he left this world. A mentor who called actors "language" and advised not to lose self-confidence. And a great elder who asked his junior Park Geun-hyung to "take charge of the theater world" and thought of the stage until the end. The words and images Lee Soon-jae left behind will be remembered for a long time as the legacy of a "teacher" of an era, beyond a single generation of actors.
[Photo] 'broadcast screen'
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