Disclaimer: This article includes mention of death.
On February 2, 2025, South Korean media reported that veteran voice actor and actress Lee Joo Shil had died at the age of 80. She made a significant contribution to the South Korean entertainment business.
Athletics Hankook broke the news after receiving confirmation from her agency, 1230 Culture. They disclosed that the actress from Squid Game 2 battled stomach cancer for three months before passing away from the fatal illness. She died in her second daughter’s home in Uijeongbu-si, Seoul, this morning at approximately 10:20 a.m. KST. Sadly, the late actress could not be saved despite receiving emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation at Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University.
Fans can pay their condolences at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul, where her remains will be transferred from Uijeongbu Hospital on February 4. On the morning of February 5, there will be a funeral service. Lee Joo Shil had previously received a cancer diagnosis. She fought against stage 3 breast cancer thirty years ago when she was fifty years old. At the time, the physicians said she had just a year or less to live, which was a very slim probability of survival. But she prevailed through her strong will. When the illness returned later in life, it became lethal for her.
She gained appreciation for her performance in Squid Game 2 as Park Mal Soon, the mother of vocalist Lee Byung Hun and officer Hwang Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon). In addition, she starred in a number of television shows and films, including The City of Violence (2006), Notebook From My Mother (2017), Clown of a Salesman (2015), The Uninvited Hommage (2003), and Commitment (2013).
Lee Joo Shil revealed her inspirational story of overcoming illness during her appearance on the MBN variety show Exclusive World last year. As a gifted voice actress and on-screen performer, she began her career in 1964. Her remarkable foray into television and movies began in 1965 when she was accepted into TBC’s second voice acting class.
