KBS and MBC prepared special memorial broadcasts to honor the legacy of the late Lee Soon Jae, who passed away on November 25 at the age of 91. Both networks moved quickly to commemorate the national actor’s extensive career and enduring influence on Korean entertainment.
KBS scheduled a special program titled “Memorial Special: National Actor Lee Soon Jae,” airing on KBS2 from November 25 to 26. On the 25th, the network featured a marathon of episodes 1 through 4 of 'Dog Knows Everything' starting at 10:45 PM. The drama, Lee Soon Jae’s final work, starred him in the role of a beloved actor who suddenly gains the ability to hear dogs’ voices. The performance earned him the KBS Drama Award, marking his first-ever Grand Prize since his debut.
On November 26 at 11:10 PM, KBS will air 'Drama City: Ten Minutes, Your Trivial,' where Lee Soon Jae portrayed a husband devastated by his wife’s car accident. To accommodate public mourning, KBS will set up special memorial altars at its annex buildings, as general public visitation will not be allowed at the official funeral site.
Lee Soon Jae’s wake is located at Room 30 of the funeral hall at Seoul Asan Medical Center, where visitors began paying respects starting at 2 PM on the 25th. His burial will take place on the 27th at Eden Paradise in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province.
MBC also joined in the nationwide tribute by preparing a documentary dedicated to Lee’s seven-decade acting career. According to an MBC representative, the memorial documentary is scheduled to air on November 28, with the exact time to be announced. The program will revisit his artistic journey and highlight his contributions to Korean theater, television, and broadcasting.
Meanwhile, Lee Soon Jae debuted in 1956 with the play Beyond the Horizon and became part of KBS’s first open recruitment of actors in 1960. He later served as an exclusive actor for TBC starting in 1965. Over the course of his prolific career, he worked across diverse genres and appeared in roughly 140 productions. Even last year, he continued to lead in 'Dog Knows Everything,' a performance that brought him his first KBS Grand Prize.
He was also honored earlier this year at the Korean PD Awards, winning in the performer (actor) category, though he was unable to attend due to health concerns. Lee Soon Jae passed away early on the morning of November 25.
His funeral will be held on November 27 at 6:20 AM, with burial at Eden Paradise in Icheon.
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