Actor Lee Soon-jae did not appear at the Korean PD Awards ceremony, prompting concern from many, and the reason has been revealed.
Previously, Lee Soon-jae stepped down from participating in the play 'Waiting for Godot' last October due to health issues that required a three-month break as recommended by his doctor. Amid concerns about whether he could attend the '2024 KBS Acting Awards,' Lee Soon-jae made an appearance, particularly as the main recipient of the grand award for the drama 'Barking Dog'.
Above all, Lee Soon-jae took the stage after a three-month hiatus. He received the trophy with the help of his junior colleagues Kim Yong-gun and Choi Soo-jong, expressing, "Living a long life, there come such days," and added, "I prepared for the day when the opportunity would come. I’m grateful to receive this beautiful and precious award today." This marked his first grand award win.
Despite being the oldest active actor, Lee Soon-jae has had relatively few connections with grand awards despite his extensive acting career. He expressed his gratitude, saying, "To the viewers who came to encourage us late into the night, and to those watching at home, I have received much help and support throughout my life. Thank you," while shedding tears. The emotion he felt receiving the grand award at 90 years old touched everyone watching.
However, on the 15th, Lee Soon-jae was not seen at the 37th Korean PD Awards ceremony broadcast on KBS1. While Lee Soon-jae was the recipient of the performance award in the actor category, the representative of his agency, Lee Seung-hee, accepted the award on his behalf due to Lee Soon-jae's absence. Lee Seung-hee stated, "The teacher could not attend due to some discomfort. He expressed his gratitude to the staff and judges of the Korean PD Awards. He is a bit unwell and needs lots of encouragement and support. We would appreciate it if you could cheer for him once."
Later, according to OSEN, the reason for Lee Soon-jae's absence from the ceremony was due to difficulty in mobility. An acquaintance of Lee Soon-jae told OSEN, "His health has improved a lot. However, he still has some discomfort in his mobility," and added, "Given his age, he has lost muscle strength in his legs, making it difficult for him to move around. He would prefer not to rely on others for support, which is why the award was accepted on his behalf."
In response, netizens expressed their support, saying, "I was really worried, but I’m glad your health has improved," "So that’s why you had difficulty moving, please don’t get sick again," and "I hope to see the great actor Lee Soon-jae perform for a long time, take care of your health."
Meanwhile, born in 1935, Lee Soon-jae debuted in 1956 with a play and began his on-screen acting with the KBS founding drama 'I Want to Become a Human.' Having walked with KBS in its founding mythology, Lee Soon-jae became the oldest recipient of the grand award in the history of acting awards at KBS, receiving the trophy in 2024, nearly 70 years later.
[OSEN]