Premature report of Yoon Suk-hwa’s death causes confusion

Actor Yoon Suk-hwa's memorial is set up at the funeral hall of Severance Hospital in western Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps

Yoon Suk-hwa, a towering figure in Korea’s modern theater scene, died Tuesday morning at the age of 69, following a battle with a brain tumor. She died at 9:54 a.m. at Severance Hospital in Seoul.

Her death was confirmed followed a brief period of misinformation. In the early hours of Tuesday, the Korean Actors Association prematurely issued a statement claiming Yoon had died the previous night. The announcement was quickly picked up by multiple media outlets before the association retracted it hours later, clarifying that she was still alive but in critical condition.

“Yoon Suk-hwa is currently in a very serious condition due to a brain tumor, but she is still alive under the care of her family,” the corrected statement read. “We deeply apologize for the confusion caused to her family and the fans who care for her, and we take full responsibility for failing to confirm the facts beforehand.”

Her death was announced shortly after.

Yoon had been battling a malignant brain tumor and underwent surgery in October 2022, after which she withdrew from public life to receive treatment. Her final stage appearance was in 2023, when she made a brief guest appearance in the play “Toccata” at LG Arts Center in Seoul.

Widely regarded as one of the pillars of Korea’s first generation of modern theater, Yoon’s career spanned decades. She was revered for her powerful onstage presence and her pioneering contributions to Korean performing arts.