Lee Soon Jae Dead at 91: What We Know About the How Did the Dog Knows Everything Star’s Cause of Death

One of the pillars of Korean television is gone. Lee Soon Jae, the veteran actor who practically defined the small-screen dad and grandpa, has passed away at 91. The news landed early this morning from his agency, and the industry is already in mourning.

The news, and yes, there is a date wrinkle

According to his agency, Lee Soon Jae died on November 25. One report pegs the year as 2026, but the same set of funeral details points to 2025: his farewell is scheduled for 6:20 AM on November 27, 2025, with burial at Eden Paradise in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province (via Maeil Business Newspaper). That mismatch is almost certainly a typo in the initial notice, and we should expect outlets to align the dates shortly.

He kept working, awards and all

Lee had pulled back on appearances earlier this year due to health issues, canceling a stage performance and skipping the Korea PD Awards in April. Still, he did what he always did: he kept acting. He even took home the Daesang at the 2024 KBS Drama Awards for his lead in 'Dog Knows Everything.' Not many people are winning grand prizes in their late 80s. He did.

The tributes

Messages poured in fast for the man many called the Nation's Grandpa. A statement attributed to the President of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, called him a giant of culture (via Kbizoom), praising how Lee carried stories of human life across theater, film, and TV. Note: the attribution raised eyebrows since Lee Jae Myung is not the sitting president, which tells you how messy breaking news can get in moments like this.

Girls' Generation's Taeyeon shared a quiet black-and-white photo with Yuri and Lee, adding a simple praying-hands message. Seo Ye Ji, producer Na Young-seok (often romanized as Nah Yung Suk), Yoon Se Ah, Baek Il Seop, and Lee Min Jung all posted their own memories and photos.

Jung Bo Seok, who played Lee's son in 'High Kick Through the Roof,' kept it simple and heartfelt:

'Thank you, teacher. I learned so much from you about acting, life, and what it means to be an actor. You were a true teacher in my life. Your footsteps are the beginning and the history of Korean television. I pray for your peaceful rest.'

Producer Na Young-seok, who worked with Lee on 'Grandpas Over Flowers,' remembered how often Lee said he wanted to stay on stage until the very end (via Korean Herald). Fans echoed that across social feeds, calling his passing the end of an era. Hard to argue with that.

Why he mattered: the work

Lee Soon Jae worked for nearly seven decades, appearing in more than 140 projects and evolving from 'national TV dad' to beloved, ageless icon. He could be stern and regal one minute, then unexpectedly goofy the next. A quick tour:

• 'What Is Love?' – The breakout patriarch in the early 90s, a ratings monster that crystallized his 'dad' persona long before anyone started calling him that.
• 'Hur Jun' – As Yoo Ui Tae, the principled physician who anchored the sageuk with quiet authority.
• 'Lee San: Wind of the Palace' – Steely and formidable as King Yeongjo.
• 'High Kick!' and 'High Kick Through the Roof' – A late-career curveball that introduced him to younger audiences and showed off his playful side.
• 'The King's Doctor' – Back to period drama as Ko Joo Man, continuing the historical streak.
• 'The Princess' Man' and 'The King's Face' – Reliable gravitas in historical court intrigue.
• 'Money Flower' – Sleek revenge melodrama with Lee as a grounded moral center.
• 'Legal High' – A legal-comedy detour that reminded everyone he could do light and sharp.
• 'Again My Life' – A modern hit that proved he was still in demand well into his late 80s.
• 'Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol' – A warm presence in a lighter contemporary drama.
• 'Grandpas Over Flowers' – Variety gold: traveling with fellow legends and casually redefining what aging on TV can look like.
• 'Dog Knows Everything' – The late-career lead that earned him the 2024 KBS Daesang.

Final thoughts

Lee Soon Jae did the rarest thing an actor can do: he kept getting better, or at least deeper, as the years piled up. The schedule details will sort themselves out, but the part that matters is already clear. He did what he loved, long after most would have called it a day, and he took a big bow on the way out.

Favorite Lee Soon Jae performance? Drop it in the comments.