Lee Joo-sil | Today's AI Wiki

1. Overview

Lee Joo-sil (이주실^Korean) was a prominent South Korean actress who left an indelible mark on film, television, and theater over a career spanning six decades. Born on March 8, 1944, in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, during the period of Korea under Japanese rule, she began her acting journey in live theater in 1965. She became a leading figure in the South Korean theater scene during the 1970s and 1980s, earning critical acclaim including a Baeksang Arts Award for Best Theatre Actress. Lee Joo-sil was widely recognized for her versatile performances across various genres, notably appearing in acclaimed films such as A Single Spark, The Uninvited, Roaring Currents, and Train to Busan. In her later career, she gained international recognition for her role as Hwang Jun-ho's mother in the second season of the Netflix series Squid Game, a dystopian survival thriller action television series. Beyond her acting achievements, she also pursued higher education, earning a doctorate degree in public health with a specialization in art therapy from Wonkwang University in 2010. She passed away on February 2, 2025, at the age of 80, after a battle with stomach cancer.

2. Life

2.1. Birth and Background

Lee Joo-sil was born on March 8, 1944, in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, which was then part of Korea under Japanese rule within the Empire of Japan. Her birth year coincided with the final period of Japanese colonial rule, and she grew up hearing many stories about the Japanese occupation and the subsequent liberation.

2.2. Family

Lee Joo-sil was a private individual regarding her family life. Publicly known information indicates that she had two daughters and a son-in-law. She passed away at her family's home in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province.

3. Education

Lee Joo-sil pursued a comprehensive academic journey alongside her acting career. She graduated from Sudo Women's High School. She later enrolled in the Department of Home Economics at Kukje University but left before completing her degree. Demonstrating a commitment to social welfare and psychology, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Welfare Psychology from Kkottongnae Hyundo University of Social Welfare. She continued her studies at the same institution, obtaining a Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from its Graduate School. Her academic pursuits culminated in 2010 when she earned a doctorate degree in public health, specializing in art therapy, from Wonkwang University.

4. Career

Lee Joo-sil's acting career was extensive, encompassing significant contributions to theater, film, and television over six decades.

4.1. Theater

Lee Joo-sil began her illustrious acting career in live theater in 1965. She quickly established herself as a formidable presence on stage and became one of the leading figures in the South Korean theater world throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She was an active member of various esteemed theater troupes, including the Minye Theater Company (극단 민예_{Geukdan Minye}^Korean) and the Sanullim Theater Company (극단 산울림_{Geukdan Sanullim}^Korean). Her notable stage performances include roles in classic plays such as Death of a Salesman and Macbeth. She was also a dedicated member of the Korea Theater Association (한국연극협회_{Hanguk Yeon-geuk Hyeophoe}^Korean).

4.2. Film

Lee Joo-sil appeared in numerous films, showcasing her versatility across various genres. Her filmography includes:

1992: A Woman Who Did Not Divorce
1995: A Single Spark as Tae-il's mother
2002: Good Luck Geum-soon!
2002: Marriage Is a Crazy Thing
2003: The Uninvited as Ms. Song
2004: Face as Hyun-min's mother
2004: When Loneliness Struggles
2005: Blossom Again as In-young's mother
2006: Running Wild as Do-young's mother
2006: The City of Violence as Seok-hwan's mother
2006: Who Slept with Her?
2007: Hot for Teacher as Headmaster Nun
2007: Black House as Vice Principal
2007: Punch Lady as Ha-eun's mother
2007: Le Grand Chef as Han's mother
2008: Sunny as Mother-in-Law
2008: Antique as Jin-hyuk's grandmother
2008: Hello, Schoolgirl as Laundromat mother
2008: My Wife Got Married
2009: The Sword with No Name as Ja-yeong's mother
2009: Like Fireworks, Like Butterflies
2012: The Tower as Mrs. Jung
2012: As One
2013: Commitment as Hwang Jeong-sook
2013: Marriage Blue
2014: Roaring Currents
2014: What's Up
2015: The Chosen: Forbidden Cave as Dol-soon's mother
2015: The Dealer
2016: Train to Busan as Seok-woo's mother
2016: Glory Day
2017: Chang-ok's Letter as Chang-ok
2018: Notebook from My Mother as Ae Ran
2018: Sooni
2019: Sunkist Family as Grandmother
2019: Goo-hae-jwo as Sung Ho's grandmother
2019: Sabaha as Geum-hwa's grandmother
2019: Gibangdo-ryeong as Yeolnyeodaemo (special appearance)
2021: Flower Hand
2022: Mother's Walk as Mother
2022: Hommage as Ok-hee
2023: New Normal as Gyu-yeon

4.3. Television

Lee Joo-sil had an extensive career in television dramas, appearing in numerous productions across various networks. Her notable television roles include:

1984: KBS1 Finding the Truth as a nun
1985: MBC Country Diaries as Il-yong's wife's mother
1986: KBS1 Woman's Heart
1990: MBC My Friend Angel
1992: KBS2 TV Sonjabyungbeop
1992: MBC Sons and Daughters as Ms. Moon
1993: KBS1 A Distant Dawn
1995: KBS2 Brilliant Dawn as Park Martha
1996: KBS2 Morning of Paris Park
2004: KBS2 I'm Sorry, I Love You as Sundaeguk restaurant owner
2004: KBS2 Drama City - Companion as Mother
2005: KBS2 Golden Apple
2008: MBC New Heart as Orphanage nun
2009: SBS Loving You a Thousand Times as Choi Shim-deok
2010: tvN Harvest Villa
2011: SBS 49 Days as Min-ho's mother
2011: KBS2 Poseidon as Cha Myung-joo
2011: Channel A Heaven's Garden, Gombe-ryeong as So Pal-bok
2012: SBS Dummy Mommy as Gop-dan's mother
2012: KBS2 KBS Drama Special Series - Ordinary Love as Yoon Hye's paternal grandmother
2012: OCN God's Quiz 3 as Park Sang-jun's grandmother
2012: KBS2 Love Rain (special appearance)
2012: KBS2 KBS Drama Special - A Miraculous Miracle as Ok-nam Hal-mae
2013: MBC Pots of Gold as Oh Sang-gu's mother (special appearance)
2014: MBC Woman in a Storm as Kim Ok-ja
2015: tvN Oh My Ghost as Bong-sun's grandmother
2015: SBS Mrs. Cop as Restaurant owner
2015: MBC Tomorrow Victory as Park Bok-soon
2016: KBS2 My Mind's Flower Rain as Kim Gye-ok
2016: SBS I'm Sorry, Gangnam-gu as Lee Kkot-nim
2017: OCN Voice as Detective's regular restaurant owner
2017: MBC Bad Thief, Good Thief as Kim Soon-cheon
2017: KBS2 The Best Hit as Entertainment mogul
2017: SBS Happy Sisters
2018: OCN The Guest as Jung Seo-yoon's grandmother
2019: OCN Save Me 2 as Lee Geum-rim, Sung Ho's grandmother
2019: KBS2 I Wanna Hear Your Song as Bok-bun
2020: KBS2 Welcome
2020: JTBC Mystic Pop-up Bar as Kindergarten director (special appearance)
2020: OCN The Uncanny Counter as Jang Choon-ok, So Moon's grandmother
2021: KBS2 Sell Your Haunted House as Yoo Young-soon
2021: Netflix Move to Heaven as Lee Young-soon
2021: tvN Voice 4 as Detective's regular restaurant owner (special appearance)
2021: TVING The Witch's Diner as Lee Bok-nam (early 70s)
2021: tvN Happiness as Ji Sung-sil
2022: Netflix Juvenile Justice as Seo Yoo-ri's grandmother
2022: KBS2 It's Beautiful Now as Jung Mi-young
2022: JTBC The Good Detective 2 as Kim Hyung-bok's mother
2023: JTBC Divorce Attorney Shin as Yang Bok-sun
2023: JTBC The Good Bad Mother as Lee Mi-joo's grandmother (special appearance)
2023: tvN The Uncanny Counter 2: Counter Punch as Jang Choon-ok
2023: Netflix A Time Called You as Gye-soon
2024: Netflix Goodbye Earth as Se-kyung's grandmother (special appearance)
2024: KBS2 Beauty and Mr. Romantic as Lee Soon-jung
2024: Netflix Squid Game (Season 2) as Hwang Jun-ho's mother

4.4. Television Programs

Beyond her acting roles, Lee Joo-sil also made appearances in various non-drama television programs:

2014: MBN Amazing Stories: Real Situation (various minor roles)
2017: MBC MBC Special Episode 733: Korea-Turkey 60th Anniversary Special - Blue-Eyed Soldier and Orphan Girl (narration)
2019: KBS1 TV Carries Love (guest, Episode 53)
2023: tvN STORY Chairman's People (guest, Episode 41)

5. Notable Roles

Lee Joo-sil's career was marked by numerous memorable performances, but some roles stood out for their impact and recognition. She was widely known for her portrayal of maternal figures and wise elderly women, often bringing depth and warmth to her characters. Her significant contributions to theater in the 1970s and 1980s established her as a leading actress on stage, with critically acclaimed performances in plays like Death of a Salesman and Macbeth.

In film, her roles in A Single Spark (1995) and The Uninvited (2003) showcased her dramatic range. She also appeared in major box office successes such as Roaring Currents (2014), one of South Korea's highest-grossing films, and the internationally acclaimed zombie thriller Train to Busan (2016), where she played the mother of the protagonist, Seok-woo.

In her later career, Lee Joo-sil gained global recognition for her appearance in the second season of the Netflix dystopian survival thriller series Squid Game, where she played the role of Hwang Jun-ho's mother. This role, though brief, resonated with audiences worldwide and highlighted her enduring presence in the industry. Her extensive television work also included long-running series and critically praised dramas like The Uncanny Counter and Juvenile Justice.

6. Awards and Recognition

Throughout her distinguished career, Lee Joo-sil received several accolades for her contributions to the performing arts and her academic achievements:

1964: Minister of Culture and Information Award at the 10th National University Broadcasting Drama Contest
1978: Acting Award at the Korea Theater Festival
1988: Baeksang Arts Award for Best Theatre Actress at the 24th Baeksang Arts Awards
1997: Acting Award at the Dong-A Theater Award
2010: Doctorate degree in public health with a specialization in art therapy from Wonkwang University

7. Health and Death

Lee Joo-sil faced significant health challenges during her life. In 1993, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a decade-long battle, she successfully recovered from the disease. However, in her later years, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer. She passed away from this illness on February 2, 2025, at the age of 80. She had been diagnosed with stomach cancer approximately three months prior to her death. Her passing occurred at her family's home in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, specifically at Catholic University Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital.