Actor Lee Ju-sil died one year after battling cancer.
Lee Ju-sil was transferred to The Catholic University of Korea Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital in cardiac arrest on Feb. 2 last year and received cardiopulmonary resuscitation but never recovered.
The late actor had calmly confessed her breast cancer battle on several broadcasts while alive. On MBN "Exclusive World," she said, "30 years ago, at age 50, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, and it later progressed to the terminal stage with a one-year life expectancy," and "but I overcame it," delivering a deep resonance. Later, a health check revealed a recurrence of the cancer, and she fought the disease again but ultimately could not rise.
On Jul. 2023 on tvN Story "People from the chairman's house," she recalled the past when she had stage 4 breast cancer and the time that miraculously followed. At the time, Lee Ju-sil, looking astonishingly bright and healthy, said, "Thanks to my bright and cheerful personality I was able to endure adversity," and calmly looked back on 13 years of battling the disease.
She honestly recounted the moment she first learned of the cancer. While bathing with her daughters, her younger daughter said, "Mom, there is a bead in your breast," so she went to the hospital, and after palpation she immediately had a detailed examination and was diagnosed at late stage 3, soon stage 4. When actress Kim Hye-jung, who appeared with her, worried about the shock at the time, Lee Ju-sil said, "My only thought was how to take care of the children rather than being scared of the disease," and "because I had the children I was able to overcome it," adding, "When a crisis comes, anyone becomes stronger."
Even while battling the disease, she did not give up work. Saying, "If I let go of everything I become listless," she recounted being offered a film and said, "I was actually grateful for the production team's comment, 'Disease is a personal matter, and we work,'" she revealed. She also said that when she was diagnosed with breast cancer her mother prayed every day, adding cheerfully, "She prayed for me to live five more years, and before I knew it that time had flown by," which made the moment more touching. She left a deep impression with the words, "Life's values are different before illness and now. This moment is a miracle."
Lee Ju-sil, who debuted in 1964, appeared in numerous works such as the dramas "Yeosim," "Son and Daughter," "New Heart," "49 Days," "Oh My Ghost," "Mrs. Cop," "Voice," "Save Me 2," "It's Beautiful Now," "The Good Bad Mother," "The Uncanny Counter 2," and "Squid Game season 2," moving across film, drama, theater and variety. She was loved as a "trustworthy actor" for her kind image that evoked warm maternal love and solid acting skills, and in 2023 she was again recognized for her acting by winning the best supporting actress award at the 10th Deulgok Film Festival for the film "Hommage."
[Photo] OSEN DB
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