Lee Yong-joo Dies at 44: ‘Blue Tower’ Star’s Sudden Heart Attack Revives Attention on His Past Heart Condition
The South Korean actor, best known for playing Private Lee Yong-joo in ‘Blue Tower,’ died suddenly on August 29 at age 44. Reports say he suffered a heart attack, while his family was left struggling to process the unexpected loss.
South Korean actor Lee Yong-joo has died at the age of 44, according to multiple Korean entertainment and news reports. Lee died suddenly on August 29, with his death reported as being caused by a heart attack or cardiac arrest.
Lee was best known for his role as Private Lee Yong-joo in tvN’s ‘Blue Tower’, where his portrayal of the awkward but lovable recruit became one of his most recognizable performances. His sudden death has prompted an outpouring of condolences from people who remembered him from the military comedy series and his other television appearances.
Lee Yong-joo’s final days and sudden death
News of Lee’s death was initially shared through social media by an acquaintance, who said the actor had died suddenly and asked people who knew him to remember him and share the news.
A subsequent report from Sports Chosun said Lee’s family and close acquaintances were still in shock and had not yet been able to fully circulate the funeral information. The report said Lee’s phone was password-protected, adding to the difficulty of contacting people following his sudden death.
His funeral altar has been set up in Room 5 of the funeral hall at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital in Seongnam, South Korea.
The funeral procession is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. on August 31, with the final burial arrangements listed at the Seongnam Municipal Crematorium.
The heart condition Lee had spoken about years earlier
The news has also brought renewed attention to something Lee publicly discussed more than a decade ago.
During a 2013 interview connected to ‘Blue Tower,’ Lee said he had been exempted from military service because he had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition he described as rare.
He also said his mother had been hospitalized with the same condition and that medical testing had found that he was the only one among the siblings tested who had the condition.
However, reports have not established that the previously disclosed heart condition was directly responsible for his death. The reported cause of death is a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest.
Why ‘Blue Tower’ made Lee Yong-joo widely known
Lee began his entertainment career as a model before moving into acting.
His early credits included the 2004 film ‘Doma Ahn Jung-geun’, followed by appearances in MBC’s ‘Hello, Francesca’ in 2005 and ‘Princess Hours’ (‘Goong’) in 2006. He later appeared in the long-running tvN series ‘Rude Miss Young-ae’ and other television and film projects.
His biggest recognition came from ‘Blue Tower,’ the military-themed tvN comedy in which he played Private Lee Yong-joo. The character helped establish him as a recognizable face among Korean television audiences.
Lee continued working after ‘Blue Tower,’ appearing in additional television and film projects. His later credits included the ENA military drama ‘New Recruit’ in 2022, where he made a special appearance as Jung Da-jung. The series is being reported as his final acting project.
A career that spanned more than two decades
From his early work as a model to his television and film appearances, Lee built an acting career spanning more than 20 years.
His sudden death at 44 has brought renewed attention to the performances that made him familiar to Korean audiences, particularly his memorable role in ‘Blue Tower.’
Funeral arrangements are now underway in Seongnam, with the funeral procession scheduled for Monday morning, August 31.
