Actor the late Byun Hee-bong left the world two years ago.
The late Byun Hee-bong died of pancreatic cancer on Sept. 18, 2023, at the age of 81. The late actor had been declared cancer-free, but the pancreatic cancer recurred and after battling the disease he passed away.
Byun Hee-bong, who debuted in 1966 as part of the second class of MBC's open recruitment voice actors, later worked as an actor and appeared in dramas "The 500 Years of the Joseon Dynasty", "Heo Jun", "Damo", "White Tower", "Soryakgukjip's Sons", "God of Study", "My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho", "Princess Aurora", "The Goddess of Fire Jeong-yi", "Pinocchio", "Blow Breeze" and many other works.
He also appeared in director Bong Joon-ho's films "Memories of Murder", "The Host" and "Okja", leaving a strong impression and was sometimes called "Bong Joon-ho's persona." Director Bong Joon-ho himself said, "We have already worked together on several projects, but I look forward to the next one, and as a director he makes me want to draw more out of him," showing special affection.
He drew 10 million viewers with "The Host" and rose to become a 10-million-attendee actor, winning best supporting actor at the 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards. In 2017, he made headlines by walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival for the first time in his life with "Okja." At the time the late Byun Hee-bong said, "Now everything is fading, but isn't it that a door to the future is opening? I felt strength and courage," and added, "Anyway, please look forward to what I will try next. I will work hard. I will do it until the day I die," expressing his passion and receiving warm applause from reporters.
In 2018, it became known that while undergoing a health checkup after being offered a role in "Mr. Sunshine," he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After being declared cancer-free, the late Byun Hee-bong continued acting in "Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho 2: Crime and Punishment," "Trap," and the film "Quantum Physics," and in 2020 he received the Silver Crown Culture Medal at the 11th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, but ultimately his health worsened due to a recurrence of pancreatic cancer and he closed his eyes.
At the funeral hall set up at Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, director Bong Joon-ho and actor Song Kang-ho visited to pay their respects, and Park Hae-il, Bae Doona, Jeon Do-yeon, Jeong Bo-seok, director Kang Woo-seok, director Park Shin-woo and others sent wreaths to express their condolences. Also that day Song Kang-ho, who was conducting interviews ahead of the release of the film "Cobweb," received the news of the obituary and said, "I just heard the news a short while ago and I'm disoriented. I didn't see him often, but I did contact him sometimes. Through director Bong Joon-ho I occasionally heard about his battle with illness," repeatedly saying, "It's so tragic," revealing his shocked feelings. Kim Tae-wan, CEO of production company Louis Pictures, which worked with actor Byun Hee-bong on film sets, also told OSEN, "I will never forget the image of the teacher who poured his passion into even modest sets," and paid tribute.
As promised in life, the late Byun Hee-bong burned with passion for acting until the end. At the 15th Korea Drama Awards held last Oct., he was posthumously given a lifetime achievement award, engraving his achievements in people's hearts and adding to the emotion. An AI-recreated version of the late Byun Hee-bong appeared at the awards ceremony and said, "Thank you for giving me this grand award. I couldn't often express it, but I will pass this on to my beloved wife and children. Thank you and I love you," and added, "I thank and love everyone who remembers me and supports me." Later, the late Byun Hee-bong's daughter, who accepted the lifetime achievement award on his behalf, choked up and moved those present, saying, "Thank you for remembering him like this and even giving him an award."
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]