Lee was one of the few actors at the time capable of handling such a challenge and began appearing in a number of other TV shows, mostly for the now-defunct channel TBC throughout the 1970s and then for KBS (which is still one of South Korea’s top broadcasters) in the 1980s. Though best known internationally for his performances on TV, Lee was a prolific actor on the big screen and on stage as well, appearing in over 150 films and about 100 plays that included domestic productions of classic works like Cyrano de Bergerac, Death of a Salesman, King Lear and more. Although Lee had already received the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit in 2018 for his contributions to Korean arts and culture, the South Korean government posthumously awarded him the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit—the nation’s highest cultural distinction—in recognition of his lifetime achievements.
Author: Regina Kim, Contributor, Regina Kim, Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/reginakim/
Published at: 2025-11-25 23:15:39
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