A past photo of actress Yoon Seok-hwa. Yonhap News file photo.

Actress Yoon Seok-hwa passed away at the age of 69 on the morning of the 19th after battling a brain tumor.

While initial reports stated "the death rumors were erroneous and her condition is critical," it was confirmed that she passed away peacefully at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul, at approximately 9:53 AM on this day, surrounded by her family. Her wake has been set up at the Severance Hospital funeral hall in Sinchon.

Jeong Jung-heon, former chairman of the Korea Drama Association, described Yoon Seok-hwa as "a born actress who could transform even her flaws into her own unique persona." The following is an excerpt from Chairman Jeong's Facebook feed.

"In 1983, Yoon Seok-hwa staged 'Agnes of God,' a play she cherished, at the Experimental Theater, achieving explosive popularity. However, at that peak, she had to experience both sweetness and bitterness. While some applauded and cheered, others showered her with envy and criticism. There were many remarks about her inability to project her voice or that her acting was exaggerated.

But Yoon Seok-hwa remained unfazed. She had the handicap of a husky voice. Yoon Seok-hwa knew her flaws better than anyone.

Nevertheless, the reason she emerged as a 'stage star' can be attributed to her exceptional ability and effort to transform those very flaws into her strengths. It is easy for anyone to point out another's flaws, but it is difficult to transform those flaws into one's own unique persona."

The deceased debuted in 1975 with the play 'Honey Taste' and has since led the Korean theater scene for nearly 50 years, appearing in plays and musicals. Her last activity was a special appearance of about 5 minutes in the play 'Tokkata' in 2023 while undergoing treatment.

It is known that she collapsed during a business trip to the UK after appearing in 'Hamlet' in 2022, was urgently transported back to Korea, and underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor.

By Reporter Lim Yo-hee