'I'll keep going, trusting you': Colleagues mourn actor Lee Yong-ju, 44, at funeral

Actor Kim Ho-chang paid tribute Monday to the late Lee Yong-ju, who died Saturday.

Kim wrote on his Instagram Monday, recalling a conversation with Lee: "Yong-ju, not long ago, when I told the guys I was thinking of quitting acting, you said, 'Ho-chang, you're going to make it. Please, out of all the Pureun Geotap family, don't you — the youngest — give up. Go all the way. I've got a good feeling about you.'"

"I'll keep going, trusting you," Kim wrote. "Don't be in pain up there — you have to be happy. You said we'd share a glass of soju at my performance next month."

He added, "I'll come see you again soon with the others. 'Pureun Geotap' forever."

Along with the post, a short video appeared of cast members paying their respects. In the clip, colleagues waved at the camera, called out "I love you," and wiped away tears.

Lee's funeral was held Monday morning at the funeral hall of Bundang Jesaeng Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. He was laid to rest at the Seongnam Municipal Funeral Culture Center. Lee died suddenly of a heart attack Saturday at the age of 44.

Kim Jae-woo also posted on social media: "Hey, rookie — come visit me in my dreams sometimes, and let's cook up some instant noodles like the old days."

Song Young-jae said, "It feels so empty that a longtime colleague and younger friend has already gone to heaven." Yoon Jin-young, Baek Bong-gi and Jeong Si-yeon also expressed their condolences.

Born in 1982, Lee began his career as a model before making his acting debut in the 2004 film "Doma Ahn Jung-geun." He went on to appear in MBC's "Hello Francesca" and "Goong," as well as tvN's "Ugly Miss Young-ae," building a loyal following.

Pureun Geotap, a tvN military sitcom, aired from 2012 to 2014. Lee won viewers' hearts playing the bumbling but warm-hearted recruit Lee Yong-ju, and it was on that show that his friendship with Kim Ho-chang began.