"Actor Lee Soonjae, I Owe You a Lot"... MBC Produces Memorial Documentary

Special Documentary 'Actor Lee Soonjae, I Owe You a Lot'. Provided by MBC

MBC announced that it will air a special memorial documentary titled "Actor Lee Soonjae, I Owe You a Lot" in honor of the late national actor Lee Soonjae at 8:40 p.m. on November 28.

Earlier this year, MBC began producing a documentary summarizing Lee Soonjae's acting career with his permission. However, filming was halted as his health deteriorated rapidly. The unfinished project was reconfigured as a memorial documentary just three days after his passing.

Lee Soonjae made his debut in theater and became a pillar of Korean popular culture over approximately 70 years, appearing in 175 dramas, 150 films, and more than 100 stage plays. Despite his extensive body of work, he received an acting award only once. The documentary also reveals that, while filming the award-winning drama last year, his eyesight deteriorated so rapidly that he was on the verge of blindness.

The documentary unveils for the first time the final period in which he concealed his illness and continued practicing to keep acting despite losing his sight, as well as his battle with illness from his hospital bed since last year. Even while wearing a hospital gown, he reportedly discussed his work every day and never gave up hope, saying, "Someday, I will stand on stage again."

The narration is provided by actor Lee Seojin, who has worked with Lee Soonjae in dramas such as "Yi San" and variety shows like "Grandpas Over Flowers." During the recording, Lee Seojin said, "There is something I really want to say to my teacher," and MBC explained that the production team was moved to tears.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.