Lee Sang-yong, a broadcaster famous as 'Uncle Popeye', has passed away at the age of 81.
According to MBN on the 9th, Lee Sang-yong collapsed on his way to a nearby hospital in Seocho-gu, Seoul, due to health reasons. He was then transported to Seoul St. Mary's Hospital for emergency treatment but ultimately passed away.
Originally from Seocheon, Chungcheongnam-do, he entered the broadcasting industry in 1973 as a co-MC for MBC's 'Pleasant Cheongbaekjeon'. He gained significant fame with the nickname 'Popeye' while hosting KBS's 'Let's Sing Together' for nine years starting in 1975.
He was also a beloved host of MBC's 'Stage of Friendship', which aired from 1989 to 1997.
Meanwhile, Lee Sang-yong revealed in a past broadcast, "It was a difficult time when I was born, and I was born just before starvation. My mother thought I had died after giving birth to me. I didn't eat well for a long time. My aunt saved me, and the neighbors helped. I was fed breast milk from the neighborhood ladies and took my first steps at six years old," sharing his challenging childhood.
He mentioned, "I was weak and caught many infectious diseases. I was sick until I was eleven. My uncle, worried about my health, introduced me to weights, and I started exercising and regained my health. Later, I became 'Mr. Chungcheongnam-do' and 'Mr. Korea University'. I was healthy enough not to be bullied," also sharing the story of how he became 'Popeye'.
