Lee Ho-jae

Lee Ho-jae (; born 2 May 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.

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. They started the tour at La MaMa in New York City. 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.

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 27 May to 5 June 2022 at Hakjeon Blue, Daehangno, Seoul.

Filmography Film

Television drama series

Television show

Stage Theater performances as member of Dongnang Repertoire Theater Company

Theater performances as member of Dongnang Repertoire World Tour + Theater performances as part of Dongrang Repertoire World Tour Year Title Role Theater Date English Korean 1977 Dongnang Repertory Theater Company's World Tour Return Commemorative Performance – Lifecord 태 King Sejo Civic Hall Annex building February 22–24 Dongnang Repertory Theater Company's World Tour Return Commemorative Performance – Prince Immortal (Hamlet) 하멸태자 Claudius tour of 16 cities in 3 countries in the United States, France and the Netherlands March 9 – May 30 ITI US Headquarters' World Theater Day invitation performance—Price Immortal (Hamlet) 하멸태자 Claudius ITI US Headquarters Civic Center Annex June 15 – June 20

Theater performances as member of NTOK + Theater play performances as member National Theatre Company of Korea Year Title Role Theater DateNote English Korean 1975 Jing Birok 징비록 Shin Shin-jin National Theater Grand Theater March 1 to 9 The Myth of Gorangpo 고랑포의 신화 Warrior Kim June 24 to 29 Wild Field 광야 Na Geol-seok August 6 to 11 Wilhelm Tell 빌헬름 텔 Werner Stauffacher November 27 to December 1 1976 Roar 함성 Lim Byung-chan National Theater Grand Theatre Feb 27 to Mar 2 Sontag Hotel 손탁호텔 Lim Cheol-gyu June 10 to 13 Night of January 16th 1월 16일 밤에 생긴 일 juror National Theater Small Theatre August 27 to 30 Peer Gynt 페르귄트 Peer Gynt National Theater Grand Theatre September 24 to 28 A Graveyard Looking Northward) 북향묘 Lee Seong-gye November 25 to 29 1977 Boy with a Straw Hat 초립동 General Gyebaek National Theater Grand Theatre March 2 to 6 Faust 파우스트 Wagner June 29 to July 3 The Late Christoper Bean 크리스토퍼의 죽음 Haget National Theater Small Theatre September 15 to 19 1978 Forest of Massacre 학살의 숲 Ha Myung-ho National Theater Grand Theatre November 24 to 28 Emile Bell 에밀레종 Il-jeon March 1 to 5 Look Homeward, Angel: a Story of the buried life 천사여 고향을 보라 Ben National Theater Small Theatre April 19 to 28 Black River 흑하 Choi Jin-dong National Theater Grand Theatre June 21 to 24 Look Homeward, Angel: Story of the buried life 천사여 고향을 보라 Ben National Theater Small Theatre June 30 to July 3 Splash물보라 Shin Ki-ri September 15 to 24 November 8 to 12 1979 Guest House 객사 Daedal National Theater Grand Theatre February 28 to March 4 Dom Juan 동쥐앙 Snagarelle National Theater Small Theatre April 19 to 26 Becket 베케트 Henry II National Theater Grand Theatre June 26 to July 2 The Portrait of Shaman 무녀도 villain National Theater Small Theatre September 4 to 13 Sachugi 사추기 Kim Sam-mak December 12 to 18

Theater performances as freelancer

Theater performances as freelancer in 2000s + Theater play performances as freelancer Year Title Role Theater Date English Korean 2000 Please Turn Off the Light 불 좀 꺼주세요 Sa-nae (man) Seoul Arts Center Towol Theater 3.4–3.26 2001 Hello You 당신, 안녕 Dok Go-young Arts and Culture Center Small Theater 3.16–4.4 Hamlet 햄릿 Claudius National Theater Haeoreum Theater 09.07–09.16 2001 SPAF Seoul Performing Arts Festival: Princess Bari 2001 SPAF 서울공연예술제: 바리공주 Baek-du Sejong Center for the Performing Arts small theater 10.12–10.15 2002 A Streetcar Named Desire 욕망이라는 이름의 전차 Friendship Appearance Center for Arts and Culture Arts Theater grand theater 7.6–7.17 Lean on Someone's Shoulder 누군가의 어깨에 기대어Ahn Kwang-nam Center for Arts and Culture Arts Theater small theater 2002.6.7–6.23 2003 11th Young Theater Festival – Mara and Thaad 제11회 젊은연극제; 마라와 사드 Kuul-Mie Creative concert hall 6.27–6.29 Thief Who Stole The Buddha 붓다를 훔친 도둑 Monk Small theater egg and nucleus 2.6–3.2 Graduate 졸업 Ahn Pil-sang Literature Promotion Institute art theater small theater 10.25–11.2 Death of a Salesman 세일즈맨의 죽음 Willy Loman Arko Arts Theater Small Theater 05.21–06.01 2005 A Story of Two Knights and the World of Knight Errantry 세상을 편력하는 두 기사 이야기 Knight 1 Arko Arts Theater Small Theater 03.24–04.10 Love Letter 러브레터 Andy Hanyang Repertory Theater 10.21–12.31 Dragon and Tiger 용호상박 Beom Namsan Drama Center Nov 24 – Dec 7 2006 Number 넘버 Salter installation theater Jeongmiso 5.18–6.4 2007 Dragon and Tiger 용호상박 Beom Namsan Drama Center Feb 17 – Feb 25 Let's Go Over the Hill 언덕을 넘어서 가자 Wan-ae Hakjeon Blue Small Theater 05.24–06.10 Forever Love 영영 사랑 Man Namsangol Hanok Village Seoul Namsan Gugakdang 12.06–12.16 2008 2008 Seoul Theater Festival – Dr. Cook's Garden 2008 서울연극제 – 쿠크 박사의 정원 Dr. Leonard Cook Arko Arts Theater Grand Theater 05.16–05.25 Human Time 인간의 시간 Lee Won-hyeong Arko Arts Theater Grand Theater 12.19–12.27 2009 2009 Seoul Theater Festival – Impossible 2009 서울연극제 – 불가불가 Director role in the play Arko Arts Theater Grand Theater 05.09–05.15 The Seafarer 뱃사람 Richard Harkin Arko Arts Theater Grand Theater 10.08–10.18 Unhyeongung Brother

Awards and nominations

Listicle + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year List Placement The Dong-A Ilbo 2003 [Best in our field selected by professionals] Plays and musicals – Best Actor 1st