Theater pioneer Yoon Seok-hwa dies at 69

Yoon Seok-hwa, a leading figure of Korea's first generation of theater actors, died Friday after battling a brain tumor. She was 69. According to the Korean Actors Association, Yoon died at 9:53 a.m. at Severance Hospital in Seoul, with family members and close acquaintances at her side. Yoon had been undergoing treatment since October 2022, when she underwent surgery for a malignant brain tumor following her appearance in a production of "Hamlet" earlier that year. After publicly disclosing her illness, she made her final stage appearance in 2023 with a brief guest role in the play "Toccata" at LG Arts Center Seoul. Born in Seoul in 1956, Yoon made her stage debut in 1975. She earned widespread recognition for her performances in acclaimed productions such as "Agnes of God" and "Hamlet," and was widely credited with helping establish and popularize modern Korean theater.