Remembering Lee Soon-jae: 5 K-dramas that defined the veteran Korean actor’s remarkable career

Lee Soon-jae was a veteran South Korean actor who spent decades in the entertainment industry, giving life to some major roles in the history of Korean dramas. The actor started with some serious roles, making him a household name, before attempting to perform comedy, where his character was seen understanding the language of dogs.

The legendary actor passed away on November 25, 2025, at the age of 91, while his legacy echoes behind him. His performances in TV films and theatre are something for his fans to hold on to, and this is the reason we are here, listing down five K-dramas that define Lee Soon-jae's remarkable career.

Remembering Lee Soon-jae: 5 K-dramas that you must watch

What Is Love? (1991–1992)

This was his early TV roles and one of Lee Soon-jae's signature roles, where he played the patriarch "Dae-bal's Father."As the patriarch, he is shown to be strict and conventional with stricter values. The show proved to be a massive hit with the viewership ranging around 65%. This made the actor popular among the mainstream audience to the extent that his name was on everyone's lips.

Hur Jun (1999)

Hur Jun is a historical drama in which Lee Soon-jae played Yoo Ui-tae. Hur Jun is a legendary physician, and his teacher or mentor is Soon-jae's character. This drama confirmed the actor's versatility and how deeply he could portray a role with gravitas, even in historical settings.

Lee San, Wind of the Palace (2007)

In this 2007 period drama, the actor played not only a major role but also respected being the eldest actor in the ensemble of the "golden era" of sageuk dramas. This performance of the actor brought him even more dignity, taking his career one step ahead.

Unstoppable High Kick! (2006)

Unstoppable High Kick! is a 2006 drama in which Soon-jae played the family patriarch. He reprised a similar role in High Kick Through the Roof (2009), bringing his comic timing and charm to a new generation. These sitcoms made the veteran Korean actor resonate with the youth, adding a layer to the serious roles he has played and making his comic abilities visible to his fans.

Dog Knows Everything (2024)

Dog Knows Everything was his major final screen role, playing an old actor who can hear what his dog is saying. This initially comes to him as a surprise and introduces a series of hilarious moments for the viewers. This show is not just quirky, but also shows the spirit of the actor acting at the age of 90.

This drama made him win the Daesang in South Korea, almost equivalent to the world's Grand Prize, at the 2024 KBS Drama Awards, making him the oldest actor to ever win this award. According to reports, tears rolled down from Soon-jae's eyes while receiving the award at the ceremony.

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Here is the list of Lee Soon-jae's valuable roles covering different phases of his career. The list covers his early TV debut to the sageuk role, which established him as a veteran, senior actor. His journey then transcended from these serious roles to comedy and portrays his versatility, sometimes playing a quirky grandfather or an old actor who talks to dogs.

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