K-drama actor Lee Moon-soo passes away at 76 due to lung cancer

According to the Korea Theatre Actors Association and other industry sources, Lee breathed his last on the night of November 29 at a hospital in Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province.

Veteran South Korean actor Lee Moon-soo has passed away at the age of 76 after a long battle with lung cancer, leaving the entertainment and theatre communities in deep mourning.

According to the Korea Theatre Actors Association and other industry sources, Lee breathed his last on the night of November 29 at a hospital in Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022 and had been undergoing continuous treatment since then.

Lee’s funeral has been arranged at Room 2 of the Hanyang University Hospital Funeral Hall in Seoul. The departure ceremony will be held at 8:20 a.m. on December 1, followed by his burial at Eden Memorial Park.

A graduate of the Seoul College of Arts, Lee Moon-soo joined the National Theater Company of Korea in 1989 and went on to deliver memorable performances in numerous iconic productions, including The Crucible, The Problematic Man Yeonsan, Death of a Salesman, 1984, The Seagull, and King Lear. His commitment to theatre established him as one of the industry’s most respected performers.

Beyond the stage, Lee also built a strong screen presence. In 2010, he appeared in the hit film Hello Ghost and the SBS drama The Great Expectation. In 2016, he earned widespread praise for his impactful role in the critically acclaimed tvN drama Signal.

Lee’s dedication to Korean arts was recognised when he received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Commendation in 2010.

Also read: 2025 MAMA Awards: Technical glitches disrupt Day 1; frustrated fans say, '10 years of complaints, nothing has changed'

In addition to Signal, Lee appeared in several popular dramas, including Rookie Cops (Kang Daniel, Chae Soo-bin), Ghost Doctor (Rain, Kim Beom), School 2021 (Kim Yo-han, Choo Young-woo), Navillera (Song Kang), and the beloved fantasy series Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) starring Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, and Lee Dong-wook.

Lee Moon-soo leaves behind a legacy defined by artistic excellence, versatility, and decades of commitment to Korean theatre and television. His passing marks the end of an era for the performing arts community, but his work will continue to live on in the hearts of audiences.