'National actor' Ahn Sung-ki has died, and the fact that his funeral wake was set up at the hospital to which he had donated during his lifetime deepens the sorrow.
Artist Company, Ahn Sung-ki's agency, said on the 5th that Ahn Sung-ki passed away at 9 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2026, at the age of 74. The wake was set up in Funeral Room 31 at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the funeral procession will be at 6 a.m. on the 9th, with the burial site at Yangpyeong Byeolgeurida dadada.
Seoul St. Mary's Hospital was where he received treatment while battling blood cancer and the hospital to which he made his final donation during his lifetime. In 2021, when his condition briefly improved after chemotherapy, Ahn donated 100 million won to this hospital and said, "I hope this becomes a small hope for those who cannot receive treatment because of financial difficulties. It is a repayment for the love I have received."
Ahn Sung-ki, a Catholic, had the baptismal name 'Saint John the Apostle.' Both of his children were born at Gangnam St. Mary's Hospital, the predecessor of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, showing a special connection to the hospital. During Pope Francis' visit to Korea in 2014, he read at the Mass celebrated by the pope, showing his devotion as a believer.
While battling illness in 2022, he appeared in the film 'Birth,' which deals with the life of Korea's first priest, Father Kim Dae-geon, saying, "Although it was not a major role, I participated out of duty and responsibility as a Catholic," maintaining his stance as an actor to the end.
Meanwhile, the Korean Committee for UNICEF, for which Ahn had long served as an ambassador, also issued an official message of condolence. On the 5th, the Korean Committee for UNICEF wrote on social media, "Ambassador Ahn Sung-ki, we will not forget the times you spent with UNICEF. Thank you. We offer our deepest condolences," expressing its grief.
UNICEF said, "He was a national actor with a kind smile and a sturdy pillar of hope for children around the world," and called him "a person who watched over children with unwavering affection for more than 40 years." It added, "As someone who devoted his life to protecting children as much as he did to his career as an actor, he served as a model for our society."
Ahn was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019 and had been battling the disease. On the 30th of last month, he choked on food while eating at home and collapsed; he was taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest. He was treated in the intensive care unit but ultimately did not recover and passed away with his family at his side.
His funeral will be held as a film-industry funeral, and the wake has been set up at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital funeral hall.
[Photo] 'SNS'
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