Seoul: Veteran actor Lee Soon-jae, who earned a reputation in plays, TV dramas, and movies for nearly seven decades, has died at the age of 91, his family announced. Lee was celebrated as one of South Korea's most beloved and prolific actors, with a career that spanned stages and screens across the nation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee was actively working in his acting career until late last year and was recognized across generations for his diverse roles in dramas, sitcoms, and period pieces. Born in 1934 in Hoeryong, now part of North Korea, Lee relocated to Seoul at the age of 4, before the outbreak of the Korean War between 1950 and 1953. His passion for acting emerged during his time at Seoul National University, launching his career with the play "Beyond the Horizon" in 1956.

Lee's career was marked by a prolific output, including starring roles in 140 TV dramas. Notably, he captivated audiences with the hit series "What on Earth is Love," which aired between 1991 and 1992 and achieved a remarkable viewership rating of 65 percent. In his 70s, Lee continued to engage TV audiences with roles in popular sitcoms such as "High Kick!" (2006) and "High Kick Through the Roof" (2009), earning admiration from younger generations as well.

His versatility was further demonstrated when he starred in the reality show "Grandpas Over Flowers" in 2013 and continued performing into his 80s, taking on the demanding title role in the Shakespearean play "King Lear" in 2021. However, health issues led Lee to step down from acting roles in October of the previous year. Despite this, he made history by becoming the oldest recipient of an award at the KBS Drama Awards in 2024.

In addition to his illustrious acting career, Lee also ventured into politics, serving briefly as a lawmaker in 1992 as a member of the then ruling Democratic Liberal Party.