Legendary South Korean Actress Lee Joo-sil, Star of 'Squid Game' and 'Train to Busan' Has Passed Away

South Korean actress Lee Joo-sil has passed away at 81-years-old following a three-month battle with stomach cancer. She was primarily known in the United States for her appearances in the dystopian television series Squid Game as well as the zombie thriller Train to Busan. The actress has enjoyed a prolific and critically acclaimed career since she first began acting at age 20.

On Feb. 2, Lee’s agency reported that she had gone into cardiac arrest and was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, where the actress tragically passed away just a few hours later. She had been battling a diagnosis of stomach cancer for nearly three months — her second encounter with the life-threatening disease, as Lee was also diagnosed with breast cancer several decades prior. A funeral hall with a memorial honoring Lee’s work and legacy is currently set up at the Severance Hospital in Sinchon, western Seoul, while Lee’s official funeral procession will be held on Wednesday.

Despite battling illness, Lee continued to pursue her passion for acting. Most recently, she featured in the record-breaking second season of Squid Game, where she portrayed the mother of undercover detective Hwang Joon-ho (Wi Ha Joon). It’s unclear if her character is expected to return for the third and final season of the gory survival series, which had already been filmed prior to Lee’s death. If so, however, the June premiere of Squid Game season three will mark her final on-screen appearance.

Remembering Lee Joo-Sil’s Niche as the Quintessential “Mom” of South Korean Media

Through the long trajectory of her career, Lee has embodied a plethora of roles, but her most well-known characters are undoubtedly the kind-hearted mothers and grandmothers that she portrayed. Lee initially debuted as a stage actress back in 1965 at just 20-years-old, appearing in over 200 productions, including several renowned works such as Death of a Salesman and Macbeth, but in the 80s and 90s, she officially transitioned to on-screen acting.

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Her longest-running role was as Mrs. Kim, or Kim Hye-suk’s mother, in the South Korean television series Jeonwonilgi, which ran for 23 years and likely solidified her acting niche as the universally beloved “mom” character. She went on to appear prominently in several other television series — such as The Uncanny Encounter from 2020 to 2023, and Heaven’s Garden from 2011 to 2012 — but also became known for her work in films like Roaring Currents in 2014 and the heart-wrenching Train to Busan in 2016.

Lee’s presence will certainly be missed in South Korean television and movies, but her legacy across hundreds of productions is undeniably profound. “Once I saw her face in a KDrama,” one fan stated, “I knew it would be a good one. She had an infectious smile.”