Princess Hours actor Lee Yong-joo dies aged 44
South Korean actor Lee Yong-joo has passed away at age 44 due to cardiac arrest. Known for his roles in 'Princess Hours' and 'Blue Tower', he had previously disclosed a struggle with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Why it matters
The death of a recognizable public figure brings attention to the impact of genetic heart conditions and the challenges faced by actors in the South Korean entertainment industry.
Actor Lee Yong-joo has died at the age 44.
South Korean media reported on Saturday (Aug 29) that his death was announced through social media by a friend.
They wrote: "Even as I write this, I still cannot believe it. Actor Lee Yong-joo, who brought laughter to many as the clumsy yet lovable new recruit Lee Yong-joo in Blue Tower (2013), passed away suddenly from cardiac arrest this morning."
He had previously been exempted from military service due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is an inherited genetic heart disease where the heart muscles thicken abnormally.
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