Lee Soon-jae becomes oldest actor to win Korean drama awards

By Park Jin-hai

Veteran actor Lee Soon-jae has made history by winning the grand prize at the 2024 KBS Drama Awards, becoming the oldest recipient of the award.

The 90-year-old actor received the top prize for his performance in "Dog Knows Everything" at the awards ceremony.

"I've lived long enough to see this day," Lee said in his acceptance speech at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, which aired Saturday. Due to the Jeju Air accident, the event, originally held on Dec. 31, was delayed and aired after being pre-recorded that day.

He appeared on stage with the help of some actors and expressed his gratitude for being part of Korean television history from its very beginning.

"KBS was the birthplace of Korean broadcasting in 1961. I was fortunate enough to be there since its inception. Despite the ups and downs, I've always held onto the belief that my time would come," he said.

Lee, born in 1934, is one of the oldest active actors in Korea, having graced both the stage and screen.

However, he had to abruptly leave the play "Waiting for Godot" in October 2024 due to health issues, and this was his first public appearance in more than two months.

In "Dog Knows Everything," a heartwarming comedy that premiered on Sept. 25 last year, Lee took on the role of a veteran actor named after himself. The story revolves around a group of older adults led by Lee, entangled in a series of mysterious events on Geoje Island, just off the south coast of Korea. When Lee begins to understand what his dog, Sophie, a retired police dog, is barking at, the group's adventures take a quirky and unexpected turn.

"I've received a beautiful and precious award. Even if you're over 60, you can still be recognized with an acting award, not just a lifetime achievement award. Acting should be evaluated based on performance alone, not on popularity or other conditions," he said. "This award isn't just about me. It's a recognition of the entire cast and crew, especially the dogs who played such important roles. The dogs, including Sophie, were amazing, and the entire team worked tirelessly, making over 20 trips to Geoje Island."

Overwhelmed with emotion, he paid tribute to his students at Gachon University, where he has served as a professor for 13 years. With tears in his eyes, he thanked his students for their belief in him and concluded by thanking the viewers for their lifelong support.

"I want to say to the viewers who are watching that I have been indebted to you all my life and have received a lot of help," he said.