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| ▲ This file photo taken Jan. 21, 2023, shows actor Lee Soon-jae. (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- An outpouring of remembrance and condolences came Tuesday following the death of veteran actor Lee Soon-jae earlier in the day.
Colleagues and junior actors alike shared their grief and paid tribute to the late actor's passion and generosity.
Joo Ho-sung, a theater actor who starred in the 2022 production of "The Seagull" staged by the late actor, expressed his deep sadness during a phone interview with Yonhap News Agency, comparing the loss to a "big star setting."
He fondly recalled Lee as a "generous" mentor who would often treat junior actors to meals and offer them invaluable acting advice.
Veteran actress Park Jeong-ja remembered Lee's unwavering dedication to his craft.
"He did not have any reservations about acting. He burned his body and soul for whatever roles he got to play under any circumstances," she said. "I think he accomplished all."
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| ▲ The file photo, taken in 2007, shows Lee Soon-jae receiving the grand prize from the 2007 MBC Entertainment Awards for his role in "High Kick!" (Yonhap) |
The sense of loss was also felt by those he had mentored. Actor Yoo Yeon-seok, a former student of Lee's at Sejong University, paid tribute on social media, thanking him for his great performances.
Jeong Bo-seok, who co-starred with Lee in the 2009 sitcom "High Kick Through the Roof," remembered him as a "mentor" in both acting and personal life.
Bae Jung-nam, who starred alongside Lee in the KBS comedy series "Dogs Know Everything" last year, also shared his condolences on Instagram.
"Rest in Peace, Sir," he wrote. "It was the greatest honor of my life for me to be able to work together in a drama."
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