South Korean actor Lee Yoon Hee has passed away at the age of 64. The tragic news was announced on January 11, 2025 by his agency, Beom Entertainment, who mentioned that he had no known health issues prior to his death.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, who are grieving this sudden loss, and to everyone who cherished and loved actor Lee Yoon Hee,” expressed the agency on social media. “His absence is a tremendous loss for us all, but we will honor his life and values by treasuring the warm memories and contributions he left behind.” The cause of his passing is still unknown and has left both his friends and family in shock.
Yoon Hee is beloved in the Korean acting industry for appearing in countless plays, movies, and K-dramas. In memory of Yoon Hee, here are five more things you need to know about the actor.
Who was Lee Yoon Hee?
He was an Aquarius
Yoon Hee was born on January 28, 1960. He started his acting career in his early 20s and soon gained recognition as Elder Kang in the 2007 melodrama Secret Sunshine, where he acted alongside Jeon Do Yeon and Song Kang Ho.
He started out in theater
Yoon Hee’s first foray into the acting world was actually on stage. He was cast in the play Here’s the Soup in 1985 before eventually transitioning to onscreen roles. The seasoned veteran has since become a familiar face on Korean movies and TV shows, mostly taking on supporting parts. Some of the successful dramas that he was part of include Mr. Sunshine, Kingdom, Backstreet Rookie, Taxi Driver, Moving, Doctor Lawyer, and Money Heist: Korea.
He only recently signed with his new agency
Yoon Hee was announced as the newest addition to Beom Entertainment’s roster on December 27, 2024, just two weeks before his sudden passing. Other artists under the agency include Oh Min Ae (The Glory), Han Sang Kyung (D.P.), and Kim Hong Pa (The Judge from Hell).
His characters are often in high-ranking positions
If you’ve seen Yoon Hee in a movie or K-drama, more often than not he was probably portraying a person of authority. Thanks to his tenure in the business and his natural commanding and graceful demeanor, the actor was always cast in executive roles. He’s stepped into the shoes of a chief investigator, an acting governor, a sales team leader, a manager, a CEO, and a school president. For those who remember the 2013 tearjerker Miracle in Cell No. 7, Yoon Hee played a part there, too, as a prosecutor.
His last released project was the K-drama "Captivating the King"
Before his passing, Yoon Hee had a supporting role in the historical series Captivating the King. It starred Jo Jung Suk and Shin Se Kyung and aired in early 2024. Check out the trailer below.
We extend our deepest condolences to Yoon Hee's loved ones. May his soul rest in peace.
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