With the passing of beloved actor Lee Soon-jae at the age of 91 on November 25, fans are revisiting one of his most heartfelt works: Late Blossom. As the news spread, the 2011 film resurfaced across social media, drawing poignant attention not only for its story but for a somber reason all four main cast members have now passed away.
Late Blossom was written and directed by Choo Chang-min, based on Kang Full’s 2007 webtoon I Love You. The romantic drama depicted the lives and loves of the elderly, starring legendary Korean actors Lee Soon-jae, Yoon So-jung, Song Jae-ho, and Kim Soo-mi.
In the film, Lee Soon-jae portrayed Kim Man-seok, a grumpy milkman who woke the village each morning with his rattling, noisy motorbike. His life takes a tender turn when he meets Song Ee-peun, an old woman who collects scraps at dawn. Slowly, a touching romance unfolds.
Song Jae-ho played Jong Kun-bong, who worked at a parking lot near a scrapyard. His wife, Jo Soon-yi, portrayed by Kim Soo-mi, suffered from Alzheimer’s, adding emotional weight to their story.
Due to the advanced age of the cast, the film initially struggled to secure funding. Shot with a modest ₩1 billion ($684,000) budget, it later raised an additional ₩1.1 billion ($753,000) for promotion—still small by Korean commercial film standards.
Late Blossom opened quietly but gained traction through word-of-mouth and critical praise for its sincere, moving portrayal of late-life love. Ultimately, it sold over 1.64 million tickets, earning more than $8 million in domestic box office revenue.
The film also brought prestigious awards to its cast. Kim Soo-mi won Best Supporting Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, while Lee Soon-jae received Best Actor at the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in China.
Thanks to its success, a 16-episode drama adaptation followed in 2012, with Lee Soon-jae reprising his role.
Now, the film has regained attention for a heartbreaking reason. With Lee Soon-jae’s death, every main actor from Late Blossom is gone:
Yoon So-jung passed away at 73 due to sepsis on June 16, 2017.
Song Jae-ho died in 2020 at 83 from chronic illness.
Kim Soo-mi suffered cardiac arrest in October 2024, passing away at 75.
According to AllKpop, despite their absence, the cast’s performances remain immortal. “Each scene feels alive. It’s hard to believe none of them are with us anymore,” wrote one fan. Others added, “Just hearing their names breaks my heart,” and “They will live forever in our hearts.”
For many, Late Blossom remains one of the most emotionally resonant Korean films ever made a timeless tribute to love, memory, and the quiet beauty of aging.
Sources: K14