On November 26, actor Yoo Yeon-seok took to social media to share a touching tribute: “The teacher I met in college was not only a great elder but also a true mentor.”
He continued, “What helped me endure my 10 years of obscurity was something he once told me: ‘If you truly love what you do, you must be able to endure it silently for at least ten years.’ Whenever I saw him at school or on set, I was always moved by his unwavering passion for acting and his integrity as an actor. It constantly made me reflect and learn.”
Yoo Yeon-seok added, “Thank you deeply for your lifelong guidance and love for your juniors and students. I respect and love you, Teacher Lee Soon-jae.”
Yoo Yeon-seok was a student of Lee Soon-jae during his tenure as a professor in the Department of Film and Performing Arts at Sejong University. Their relationship was well known, especially highlighted during the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, where Yoo Yeon-seok was visibly emotional during Lee Soon-jae’s special stage performance.
In a past interview, Yoo Yeon-seok shared, “Professor Lee Soon-jae was my advisor at Sejong University. We even performed in workshop plays together during school. He gave me a lot of advice on set. He’s like another ‘Dr. Kim Sabu’ to me.”
Lee Soon-jae’s wake is being held in Room 30 of the funeral hall at Seoul Asan Medical Center, and the funeral service will take place on November 27 at 6:20 AM KST. He will be laid to rest at Eden Paradise in Icheon.
Yoo Yeon-seok’s heartfelt message stands as a poignant reminder of the profound impact Lee Soon-jae had on generations of actors both on screen and off.
Sources: OSEN,Nate
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