Lee Ho-jae (; born May 2, 1941) is a South Korean actor. Lee began his career on stage in 1963, in the play Of Mice and Men, and has appeared in numerous works of Korean theatre, film, and television.
In 1977, with his fellow actor Jeon Moo-song, Lee performed in play Crown Prince Hamyeol (an adaptation of Hamlet) at La MaMa in New York City, which marked the first time a Korean theatre troupe had traveled outside Korea.
Lee was the first actor to win the , one of the major theater awards in Korea. He has been praised as a master of speech for his restrained emotion acting. In 2011 Lee was awarded the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit by South Korean government.
Career
Early career Lee was born in Seoul and grew up in the Jongno-dong neighborhood. He's the eldest of 6 siblings, 3 boys and 3 girls. His father had a big business in dyes and pigments. Lee didn't plan to be an actor. He was an ice hockey player at Whimoon High School in Seoul. In the spring of 1960, He was a freshman in Yonsei University's Department of Political Science and Diplomacy. Because of his good voice, a senior appointed Lee him to read the April 19 Revolution Manifesto in student protest, but that incident made Lee expelled from university. He was wandering for two years, then in autumn 1962, he decided to enter newly established Korean Theater Academy, founded by Dongnang (1905–1974) which was predecessor of today Department of Theater and Film of Seoul Institute of the Arts. Class of 1962 was the first batch from the academy. Lee's fellow classmate included Shin Gu, Jeon Moo-song, Ban Hyo-jeong (who did not graduate), and playwright Yoon Dae-seong.
In 1963, Lee made his stage debut as Lenny Small in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men at the Myeongdong National Theater. The production was produced by a theater company owned by his friend, Kim Bul-rae (currently a former professor at Hongik University). In exchange for free drinks at his mother's bar, Kim convinced Lee to join the play.
Career from 1964 to 1999 After graduating in 1964, Lee and his fellow classmate Jeon Moo-song became members of the Dongnang Repertoire Theater Company. However, in 1966, he was called to serve in the military for 36 months. Lee fulfilled his mandatory military enlistment by participating in the Vietnam War and was discharged in 1969. After a brief stint working in another company, he returned to the theater company. While with the Dongnang Repertoire Theater Company, Lee worked on major plays by playwright Oh Taeseok, including his original works "Chobun" and "Tae" (lifecord), as well as the adaptation of Molière's Scapin the Schemer called "Sootduki Play" (1974).
In 1975, Lee with his fellow actor Jeon Moo-song and playwright Oh Taeseok joined National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK). His most memorable and notable work there was Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt.
In 1977, Lee with Jeon Moo-song and Oh Taeseok, joined Dongnang Repertory Theater Company's World Tour Return Commemorative Performance. Dongrang Repertory theater company led by CEO Yoo Deok-hyung (president of Seoul Institute of the Arts at that time) toured the world for about three months from March 9 to May 30, 19777, sponsored by JoongAng Ilbo, Dongyang Broadcasting, and the American Headquarter of International Theatre Institute (ITI), co-hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation in the United States). This was first full-fledged overseas tour of a Korean theater. The repertoire of this world tour theater performance is "Tae (Life Cord)" and Crown Prince Hamyeol (directed by Ahn Min-su, an adaptation of Shakespeare's original Hamlet).
Dongnang Repertory Theater Company's World Tour Return Commemorative Performance was held as an opportunity to attend the "World Theater Month" commemorative event hosted by the American Headquarter of International Theatre Institute (ITI), which held in New York, US, from March 15. Following the performance at the commemorative event, the troupe toured around the U.S. in Dallas, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Hawaii, as well as in Paris, France and the Netherlands. Before leaving the country, the troupe performed a commemorative performance of Tae (Life Cord), written by Oh Tae-seok, directed by Ahn Min-soo), one of the tour works, at the annex of the Seoul Citizens Hall from February 22 to 24 (hosted by JoongAng Ilbo and Dongyang Broadcasting). They started the tour at La MaMa in New York City.
Lee also joined Dongnang Repertory Theater Company in invitation performance of Crown Prince Hamyeol in American Headquarter of International Theatre Institute (ITI) World Theater Day, from June 15 to 20, 1977 in Los Angeles, United States.
Lee recognized as one of notable actor in history of South Korea modern theatre in the 70s. Lee was nicknamed "The Eternal Watchman of the Theater World" because he stayed in the theatre even when his seniors and colleagues left for television dramas and movies. Lee wanted to be financially independent by only do plays, but due to circumstances after marriage with children, since 1980s he was forced to also do radio, television dramas and films.
After five years with NTCK, he decided to be a freelancer. In the 80s, he worked with different theater company such as company Sanwoolim, Seongjwa, and Hyundai Theater.
In 1994, Lee debuted on the musical stage in The stars love each other with meaning in the world. The musical written by an active psychiatrist, Kim Jong-il, depicts the devastated mental world of Jung Hoon, who suffers from mental illness, through various events that happen in a dream overnight which is a reminder of the importance of life. Directed by Song Mi-sook, this work was performed at the Hakjeon Small Theater from December 1, 1994, to Januari, 1995.
Career in 2000s In 2005, Lee performed in the play "The Story of Two Knights Moving Around the World" by Betsuyaku Minoru, one of the leading playwrights in modern Japan. Additionally, in the same year, Lee and Jeon Moo-song reunited for the play "Dragon and Tiger Sangbak", directed by Oh Tae-seok. This project marked their first collaboration in eight years since "A Thousand Years of Beast" in 1997. It was also a special occasion as it marked exactly 30 years since the three of them had worked together to put on a performance at the Namsan Drama Center, where they had started their career.
Lee worked several times with playwright Lee Man-hee, his junior in at Whimoon High School in Seoul. One of their work together was play Let's Go Over the Hill (2007), a story of a love triangle between three friends at their sunset age. Lee also worked with National Theater Company's Oh Young-soo and Jeon Yang-ja. Directed by Lee Seong-sin, it was performed at the Hakjeon Blue Small Theater in Daehak-ro.
In 2010, Lee performed in the play Even if I deceive you (written by Lee Man-hee, directed by Ahn Kyung-mo to commemorates his 70th birthday.
In 2015, Lee joined project to celebrate the 110th anniversary of Dongnang Yoo Chi-jin, reenactment of The Han River Flows. The play performed at the Drama Center of Namsan Arts Center in Yejang-dong, Seoul. Oh Tae-seok, chair professor at Seoul Institute of the Arts, was the director and Dong-rang's son, Yoo Deok-hyeong, president of Seoul Institute of the Arts, will be the artistic director.
In 2017, four masters of the theater, met at the 2nd Neulpureun Theater Festival. Lee Ho-jae and fellow actor Oh Hyun-kyung represent actors, Director Kim Do-hoon and playwright Noh Kyung-shik represent creator. The masters have average age of 79 years old. In this festival Lee Ho-jae performed his play Let's Go Over the Hill. This was written by Lee Man-hee as tribute to him and the time of its premiere in 2007, it received a great response from the middle-aged audience with his warm and pleasant gaze toward the silver age and delicious lines. Directed by Choi Yong-hoon, the play performed at Daehangno Arts Theater from August 17 to 27, 2018.
In 2011, Lee was awarded the 2011 Order of Cultural Merit (Level 3) by the government.
Since 2018, Lee Ho-jae became one of member of Theater, Film and Dance Division of The National Academy of Arts.
In 2022, Lee performed on stage to commemorate the 60th acting anniversary. Lee Man-hee wrote a new play titled Jealousy dedicated to Lee Ho-jae. The play is centered on 'Wan-gyu' (Lee Ho-jae), who lives and runs a business alone in a plastic house office after divorce, and 'Chun-san' (Nam Myeong-ryeol), a friend. The drama depicts the romance of twilight with Sujeong (Nam Ki-ae), a local drugstore pharmacist. Directed by Choi Yong-hoon, the play performed from May 27 to June 5, 2022, at Hakjeon Blue, Daehangno, Seoul.
Filmography Film +List of Film(s) Year Title RoleEnglishKorean1992이혼하지 않은 여자Hwa-Om-Kyung화엄경Beopun1994Taebaek Mountains태백산맥former director1995리허설Kim Myung-gun1997아버지Doctor Nam그는 나에게 지타를 아느냐고 물었다Stranger1999세기말Chun2000Libera Me리베라 메Lee In-ho2002Yesterday예스터데이Chief of Police2003별Noh doctor런 투 유Chairman Lee Doo-yong2006The Railroad경의선Min-soo's father2008Little Prince어린왕자Han Jeong-tae사랑과 전쟁: 열두 번째 남자2010Man of Vendetta파괴된 사나이old gentleman2015The Priests검은 사제들the spirit buoy2018Default국가부도의 날YS
Television drama series +List of Television drama series Year Title RoleEnglishKorean1973113 Investigation HeadquartersMBC 113 수사본부various minor roles1980Song Buried in the GroundTBC 땅에 묻은 노래People of the LandTBC 그땅의 사람들Country DiaryMBC 전원일기various minor roles19811st Republic제1공화국Seo Sang-ilKorea Fantasy Song코리아 환상곡1983 Country개국Baegeuk-nyum Mama of Autumn Palace추동궁 마마 Jeongdojeon 1984 The Independence Gate독립문 Lee Sang-jae Guest History객사The Governor-General of Korea조선총독부 Gojong in Joseon Missing You그리워1985 Separate Song이산별곡1986 Nirvana Festival열반제 Chōyeongeosa 1987A Broadcaster어느 방송인Ehwa이화 Heungseon Daewongun Can't Go Country갈 수 없는 나라1988 In Search of History역사를 찾아서Chosun White Porcelain Maria Award조선백자 마리아상1989 Forest Does Not Sleep숲은 잠들지 않는다1990 Night Train밤기차The Sinner We Love우리가 사랑하는 죄인1991Happiness Dictionary행복어사전 Yoon Doo-myung 1991 Slime미늘1993 The Third Republic제3공화국 Choi Young-hee as Jung Il-Hyung 1995 Kim Gu김구 Lee Dong-hwi Station2000Sound of Thunder천둥소리Seon-jo2002Friends프렌즈Ji-hoon's father2004I'm Sorry, I Love You미안하다, 사랑한다Min Hyun-seok2006Princess Hours궁Gongnae-gwanJust Run!일단 뛰어Noh Seok-jung2007Prince Hours궁SJisinsa2008My Sweet Seoul달콤한 나의 도시Eun-soo's fatherLawyer of Great Republic of Korea대한민국 변호사Choi Soo-sooWorlds Within그들이 사는 세상middle-aged actorThe Return of Iljimae돌아온 일지매Iljimae's biological father2009Tamra, the Island탐나는도다Park Chul (Park Gyu's father)2010Flames of Desire욕망의 불꽃Yoon Sang-hoon2011Listen to My Heart내 마음이 들리니?Tae Seung-ho2013MBC Drama Festival:"Sunlight Noon Jung's Amazing Funeral"MBC 드라마 페스티벌 – 햇빛 노인정의 기막힌 장례식Choi Ong-sik2014Golden Cross골든크로스Kim Jae-gap2015Oh! My Grandma오!할매Ki-chanThe Scholar Who Walks the Night밤을 걷는 선비Mun-joMom엄마Cho Jang2016Squad 3838 사기동대Choi Chul-wooThe Doctors닥터스Hong Du-sikSolomon's Perjury솔로몬의 위증Chairman of the Political FoundationThe Legend of the Blue Sea푸른 바다의 전설Cameo2017Queen of Mystery추리의 여왕CameoStranger비밀의 숲Minister of Justice Young Il-jae2018Mysterious Personal Shopper인형의 집Eun Ki-TaeMr. Sunshine미스터 션샤인Go Sa-hong2019My Only One하나뿐인 내편Chairman SongRomance Is a Bonus Book로맨스는 별책부록Kang Byung-junPerfume퍼퓸Choi Jang-taeJustice저스티스Seo Dong-seokThe Tale of Nokdu조선로코 – 녹두전the old man who threw a stone2021Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha갯마을 차차차Grandpa Hong (Hong Du-sik's grandfather (special appearance)Reflection of You너를 닮은 사람Koo Gwang-mo 2022–2023 Bean Pods in My Eyes 내 눈에 콩깍지 President Jang 2023Divorce Attorney Shin신성한, 이혼Seo Chang-jin
Television show +List of Television show Year Title Role EnglishKorean1999–2009The Clinic for Married Couples: Love and War부부클리닉: 사랑과 전쟁Associate judge
Stage Theater performances as member of Dongnang Repertoire Theater Company