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'Squid Game' actress Lee Joo Sil passes away at 80

Published Feb 03, 2025 11:36 am

South Korean veteran actress Lee Joo Sil, who starred in hit K-dramas Squid Game 2 and Uncanny Counter, has passed away after a battle with stomach cancer. She was 80.

A representative from her agency 1230culture confirmed that Joo Sil died on the morning of Feb. 2, just three months after she was diagnosed with stomach cancer, per the K-media outlet Soompi.

“Approximately three months ago, actress Lee Joo Shil’s health declined, and she was diagnosed with stomach cancer after an examination from the hospital,” the agency stated.

According to the report, Joo Sil was also diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and became cancer-free after over 10 years. During that time, she also pursued her doctorate in Public Health at Wonkwang University in 2010, per the Korea JoongAng Daily report.

Joo Sil started in the industry as a theater actress in 1964, before making her name in mainstream television and movies. She was notable for her roles in Country Diaries, Train to Busan as Gong Yoo’s character’s mother, Happiness, and Uncanny Counter

Her latest projects were KBS2's weekend drama Beauty and Mr. Romantic, and Squid Game 2 as the mom of Wi Ha Jun’s character.