Squid Game Star Dies at Age 81 - Cause of Death revealed
At the age of 81, well-known South Korean actress Lee Joo-sil, who was praised for her portrayal of Park Mal-soon in the second season of Netflix's "Squid Game," died. Three months after being diagnosed with stomach cancer in November 2024, she passed away on February 2, 2025, at her family home in Uijeongbu, South Korea. On February 5, Lee's funeral took place at Seoul's Shinchon Severance Hospital.
Beginning in 1964, Lee's remarkable career included important parts in both theater and cinema. She starred on stage in beloved plays including "Death of a Salesman" and "Macbeth," and she starred in well-known movies like the 2016 zombie thriller "Train to Busan," played the lead character's grandmother. In "Squid Game," she portrayed the stepmother of the Front Man, Hwang In-ho, and the mother of police detective Hwang Jun-ho. Widespread praise was given to her performance in the second season of the show, which debuted in December 2024.
Lee was incredibly resilient throughout her life. She was given less than a year to live after receiving a stage three breast cancer diagnosis in her fifties. After battling the illness for 13 years, she defied the odds and triumphed. She passed away too soon after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. In addition to her accomplishments in acting, Lee's commitment to both the arts and education is demonstrated by her 2010 doctorate in public health from Wonkwang University.
