Through six decades in Korean entertainment Lee Joo-Sil established themselves as a legendary figure.
The transformation of Korean theater and cinema can be followed through her rise as a beginning stage performer who evolved into a respected film star.
She starred on stage for the first time in the year 1964 when she made her professional acting debut.
Within a short time she secured praise for her characters in Death of a Salesman and Macbeth alongside other classic dramas.
Her deep emotional expression together with her commanding presence made her the dominant figure in South Korean stage performances.
Her powerful acting during the 1970s combined with her impressive performances in the 1980s deepened her reputation as an actor.
The 1980s introduced Lee to a new professional stage when she started working on television projects along with films after leaving theater work.
Her acting career took off when she appeared in Country Diary (1980) and she reached worldwide fame through Train to Busan (2016).
The Busan Train scene where she portrayed Seok-woo’s mother delivered a dual appeal which reached viewers of all age groups.
The Uncanny Counter became a top K-drama that featured paranormal hunters together with Lee So-yeon for which she received extensive praise.
Like her screen presence the strength she demonstrated off-screen defined the whole spectacle of her life.
In 1993 the doctors determined stage 4 breast cancer had invaded her body with a survival expectancy of one year.
The devastating medical prognosis could not end her life so she fought cancer for thirteen years until doctors ruled her free from the disease.
She declared during her battle with cancer that she discovered the disease was at the end of stage 3 but quickly progressed to stage 4. Her recovery from stage 4 breast cancer was successful since she had children.
The medical challenges she faced did not deter her from continuing to advance her scholarship after her professional acting career.
During 2010 she received her doctorate degree in public health from Wonkwang University which demonstrated her dedication to academic development.
Lee returned to prominence in her profession when Squid Game became successful after multiple years in the entertainment industry.
On Squid Game she portrayed Mal Soon Park who served as the mother of the undercover police officer Hwang Jun-ho.
The representation of her character added profound emotional weight to Squid Game which exposed new fans across the world to her work.
Her truthful performance of all her characters made her stand out in the popular Netflix series.
Lee’s marvelous career was marked by another severe illness that struck only a few months ago.
Stomach cancer caused her death on February 2, 2025 when she reached 81 years old.
Her talent agency from 1230Culture confirmed the actor died from cardiac arrest while situated in her Uijeongbu family residence of Gyeonggi Province.
The untimely death of the actress left fans and colleagues in despair and many of them showed their mourning through social media.
The veteran actress Lee Joo-Sil left the world at a moment when readers learned about her passing through a heartfelt statement. May she rest in peace.”
Posthumously her fearless acting ability and persistent existence continue to motivate future generations.
feature Image Credit: (Netflix)