The veteran Korean film, TV and stage actor died Sunday following a cancer recurrence diagnosis in November 2024.

Lee Joo Sil died on February 2, 2025, at the age of 81, at her family home. Her illustrious acting career spanned decades and included revolutionary roles in both film and theatre.

Lee's death comes shortly after she disclosed her stomach cancer diagnosis three months earlier. Lee's diagnosis marked a painful return to the world of illness for the actress, who had previously been told in 1993 that she had Stage 4 breast cancer and had just a year to live.