Squid Games star Lee Joo-sil has died at age 81

Squid Games star Lee Joo-sil has died at age 81.

The actress died at her family home in Uijeongbu, South Korea, according to the Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo.

According to the publication, Joo-sil's cause of death was not reported, though she had stomach cancer at the time after being diagnosed last year.

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The late star previously revealed she had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in her 50s, and despite being told she had less than one year left to live, she received an all-clear 13 years later. 

Lee Joo Shil was born on March 8th 1944, in South Korea and started acting in 1964 with roles in stage productions and as a voice actor.

The actress has starred in various productions, including Train to Busan (2016), The Uncanny Counter (2020) and Commitment (2013). 

She has also appeared in stage productions of Death of a Salesman and Macbeth. In 2023, she won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the Wildflower Film Festival.

It's understood Joo-sil was diagnosed with stomach cancer in November last year after wrapping up filming Squid Games.

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The actress starred in the Korean drama as Park Mal-soon, the mother of police detective Hwang Jun-ho, and the stepmother of The Front Man, Hwang In-ho.

Joo-sil appeared in the first two episodes of Squid Games season two, but it is not yet known whether she will appear in the third and final season of the series, which is set to be released in June. 

The acclaimed drama series' second season flew to the top of Netflix's most-viewed charts.

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According to the streamer, Squid Games received the most views for a show in its first week on record. 

Lee's funeral service is scheduled for February 5 at Sinchon Severance Hospital in South Korea.

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