“Blue Tower” Actor Lee Yong-joo Dies Suddenly at 44 — Family Struggles to Contact His Acquaintances

South Korean actor Lee Yong-joo (이용주) has passed away suddenly at the age of 44, leaving his family, friends and fans in shock.

According to reports from South Korean media on August 29, Lee Yong-joo died that morning after suffering a heart attack.

The heartbreaking news was shared on social media by one of the actor’s close acquaintances, who asked people to help spread the message so that everyone who had known or worked with Lee could be informed.

The situation has been particularly difficult for his family. Because Lee Yong-joo’s phone is protected by a password, they have reportedly been unable to access his contacts and personally reach many of his friends and colleagues.

With the news coming so suddenly — and during the weekend — the family has struggled to notify everyone connected to the actor.

His acquaintance therefore appealed to the public to share the news so that it could reach people from the entertainment industry who had worked with him over the years.

Lee Yong-joo Had Previously Revealed a Heart Condition

Following news of his death, attention has also returned to an interview Lee Yong-joo gave in 2013, when he revealed that he had been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick.

The actor explained at the time that his mother had also been hospitalized with the condition. Because doctors suspected it could be hereditary, Lee and his sister underwent medical examinations, with Lee ultimately being diagnosed with the same condition as his mother.

His diagnosis resulted in him being exempted from mandatory military service.

Although his death has been reported as resulting from a heart attack, no official direct connection between his previous diagnosis and his death has been confirmed.

Who Was Lee Yong-joo?

Born in 1982, Lee Yong-joo began his career as a model before moving into acting.

He made his acting debut in the 2004 film “Doma Ahn Jung-geun” (도마 안중근) and went on to build a career across Korean television and cinema.

He appeared in a number of well-known productions, including:

“Hello Franceska” (안녕, 프란체스카) — the popular MBC sitcom that helped introduce him to a wider television audience.

“Princess Hours / Goong” (궁) — the hugely popular 2006 MBC romantic drama starring Yoon Eun-hye, Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Jeong-hoon and Song Ji-hyo.

“Ugly Miss Young-ae” (막돼먹은 영애씨) — Lee appeared across several seasons of tvN’s long-running series, including Seasons 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10.

“Blue Tower” (푸른거탑) — undoubtedly his best-known work. Lee became particularly popular for portraying Private Lee Yong-joo, the awkward, naïve and lovable new recruit. The character became one of the roles most strongly associated with him and earned him considerable affection from viewers.

“Let’s Eat” (식샤를 합시다) — another popular tvN drama in which he appeared.

His television career also included appearances in productions such as “The Virtual Bride,” “Golden Pouch,” “Bad Detective” and others.

In 2022, Lee Yong-joo made a special appearance in the ENA military drama “New Recruit” (신병) as Jung Da-jung (정다정). The production would become his final television work.

His film credits also included titles such as “My Boyfriend Is Type B,” “Dasepo Naughty Girls” and “Penny Pinchers.”

The Role Viewers Remember Most

Despite appearing in numerous television series and films, Lee Yong-joo remained particularly associated with “Blue Tower.”

His portrayal of the inexperienced Private Lee Yong-joo brought humor to the military sitcom and made him a familiar face to Korean television audiences.

There was also an unusual contrast between the actor and his famous character: although he became widely recognized for portraying a soldier on television, Lee Yong-joo himself had been exempted from military service because of his heart condition.

Funeral Arrangements

Lee Yong-joo’s funeral altar has been prepared at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital Funeral Hall in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

The funeral procession is scheduled for August 31 at 6:30 a.m., with the burial proceedings taking place at the Seongnam City Funeral Culture Center.

The sudden loss of the 44-year-old actor has prompted an outpouring of condolences from people who remember him from his many years on Korean television.

For viewers who grew up watching Blue Tower, Ugly Miss Young-ae and his other productions, Lee Yong-joo will be remembered especially for the warmth and humor he brought to his characters.

Rest in peace, Lee Yong-joo.