Seoul: Lee Sang-yong, a renowned TV personality celebrated for hosting a popular entertainment program aimed at soldiers, has died at the age of 81 due to cardiac arrest, as confirmed by his agency.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee collapsed at 12:45 p.m. while on his way back from a hospital visit and was immediately taken to emergency care. Lee, affectionately known for his cropped hair and dubbed "Popeye ajeossi"-a Korean term for a middle-aged man-made his debut in 1973 and became a regular participant in entertainment shows from the mid-1980s onward.
Lee was also dedicated to philanthropic activities, notably raising funds for children suffering from heart disease. His national fame soared in 1989 when he began hosting "Stage of Friendship," an entertainment program on MBC designed for soldiers, which he led for eight years until 1996.
Throughout his career, Lee was honored multiple times for his impact on the entertainment industry and his charitable endeavors. In 1987, he received the Order of Civil Merit. In 2009, he founded "Popeye's Traveling Troupe," a group of veteran singers and comedians, to offer free performances across the nation.