Following the passing of Lee Soon-jae, who was beloved as Korea’s oldest working actor and a pillar of the performing arts, his final words to the public are resurfacing, leaving a profound impact. His last heartfelt speech, delivered at the 2024 KBS Drama Awards, moved even fellow veteran actress Kim Young-ok, now 87 years old, to tears.
Back in March, Kim Young-ok appeared on MBC’s variety show “Radio Star”, where she reflected emotionally on Lee Soon-jae receiving his first Grand Prize (Daesang) at age 90 for his role in “Dog Knows Everything.” She admitted, “It pained me. It felt strange that it was his first time winning it, despite leading so many dramas over the years. His acceptance speech especially about how acting should still be evaluated after age 60 resonated deeply.”
She continued, “He was finally recognized with a major award, not a lifetime achievement one. That brought me to tears. It felt like he had finally said everything he needed to say.”
During his acceptance speech, Lee Soon-jae, who became the oldest recipient of the Grand Prize, reflected, “Living this long, I guess a day like this comes.” He spoke of his early days in minor roles and always staying prepared for the right opportunity. He then boldly addressed the bias in award criteria:
“People like General Yi Sun-sin or actor Choi Soo-jong have received this award multiple times. Why not give it to someone more than once? In the U.S., an actress won in her 30s and again three times after turning 60. Here, we’d call that a lifetime award. But acting is acting good performances after 60 deserve recognition. Awards shouldn’t be given based on popularity or other conditions. That’s the spirit of the Oscars.”
He then humbly shared the spotlight: “This isn’t just my award. In Dog Knows Everything, even the dogs, like Sophie, played their part.” He added that the shoot involved 20 round trips to Geoje, each taking 4.5 hours, and thanked his university students who supported his filming commitments during the semester.
Lee Soon-jae also extended his gratitude to KBS and the viewers: “To the audience here and those watching from home, I’ve received endless support throughout my life. Thank you deeply.” The speech brought the entire audience to tears and a standing ovation.
On November 25, his family confirmed that Lee Soon-jae passed away in the early morning hours. The funeral arrangements are currently being prepared.
Sources: Daum
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