Lee Joo Sil, veteran actress from Squid Game, passes away at 81

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. She also featured in the worldwide hit Squid Game, for which she was much appreciated in South Korea.

Saying she had been battling stomach cancer for three months following her diagnosis in November 2024, her agency, 1230Culture, notified the Korea JoongAng Daily of her demise.

Lee, who was known for her resilience in real life as well as on-screen, beat stage 4 breast cancer in the 1990s, when physicians had given her a one-year prognosis. When asked about her 13-year battle with the cancer in 2023, she reflected:

"I overcame it well because I have children.".

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Lee Joo Sil's legacy is forged in theater and film

Lee Joo Sil captivated audiences with her performances in old masterpieces such Shakespeare's Macbeth and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman starting her career on Seoul's stages in 1965. Her change to screen acting in the 1980s solidified her reputation as a flexible performer and brought praise for dramas including Country Diaries and The Witch's Diner.

Globally, her moving performance as the grandmother of protagonist Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) in the 2016 zombie movie Train to Busan, which reinterpreted the genre, became a familiar sight.

More recently, she joined the cast of Netflix’s Squid Game for its second season, portraying Park Mal-soon, the terminally ill mother of detective Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon). Her performance, though brief, added emotional depth to the series’ exploration of sacrifice and familial bonds.

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A life marked by defiance

Lee Joo Sil's own challenges reflected the perseverance of the characters she portrayed. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and carried on working during her treatment; subsequently, in 2010 she graduated with a doctorate in public health from Wonkwang University.

“Everyone becomes stronger when faced with a crisis,” she told People in 2023. “If you let everything go, you become helpless.”

Her final diagnosis came in late 2024, but even then, Lee Joo Sil faced it with characteristic resolve. She suffered cardiac arrest at home on February 2 and was pronounced dead at Seoul’s St. Mary’s Hospital.

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Tributes pour in

Online, fans and coworkers lamented Lee Joo Sil's death; social media was overflowing with comments praising her "unforgettable presence" and "grace under unimaginable pressure."

Her co-star Wi Ha-joon said,

"Her kindness on set taught me what true strength looks like."

The writer of Squid Game Hwang Dong-hyuk described her as "a force of nature."

Lee Joo Sil's funeral will be held in private at Shinchon Severance Hospital on February 5 and will be attended by close friends and family. She has two children, whom she frequently said were her motivation in the face of her health struggles. They are her only survivors.

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An enduring impact

Throughout her career, Lee Joo Sil connected the avant-garde theater of the 1970s with the streaming era of global entertainment in Korea. She gained new fans with her performances in Train to Busan and Squid Game.

She made the renowned statement

"Art outlives us all."

That is precisely what her labor and unwavering attitude will do for millions of people around the world.