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The veteran actress was previously diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 50, which she successfully overcame.
Rest in peace, Lee Joo Sil. (Photo Credits: X)
The South Korean entertainment industry is mourning the loss of one of its talented stars. Veteran actress and voice artist Lee Joo Sil passed away on February 2 amidst an ongoing battle with stomach cancer. She was 80. According to reports by South Korean media outlets, she took her last breath at 10:20 AM KST. Joo Sil was with her daughter in Uijeongbu-si, Seoul.
She received emergency CPR at Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University, but the medical efforts were unsuccessful in reviving her. Her agency, 1230 Culture, confirmed the news, stating that Joo Sil was undergoing treatment for stomach cancer for the last three months. Joo Sil’s mortal remains have been transferred to Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul where fans and mourners can pay their last respects to her from February 4. Further, Lee Joo Sil’s funeral is set to take place on February 5 at the Severance Hospital hall.
As gathered, this was not the first time that the veteran actress was diagnosed with cancer. Thirty years back, Joo Sil was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at 50 years old. She bravely fought the disease for over a decade and was declared cancer-free. Unfortunately, a recent examination confirmed the recurrence of the disease, and it proved to be fatal for her.
The veteran actress passed away over a month after her appearance in the highly anticipated second season of Squid Game. In the Netflix survival thriller, Lee Joo Sil played Park Mal Soon, the mother of Hwang Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon) and Hwang In Ho, aka the Front Man (Lee Byung Hun). Her portrayal of a kind and nurturing mother resonated with many, and she received love for her role.
Apart from Squid Game 2, the late actress had an illustrious career in the South Korean entertainment industry, which began in 1964. Over the years, she gained recognition for being a voice artist and actor. She has also made contributions to theatre.
Some of her notable work includes K-movies such as Train to Busan, Notebook from My Mother and Country Diaries. She has starred in K-dramas such as Beauty and Mr Romantic, Tell Me That You Love Me, A Time Called You, Divorce Attorney Shin, Happiness, Juvenile Justice, The Good Bad Mother and The Uncanny Counter.
