Actor Park Joong-hoon, at the publication event for the essay he released for the first time in his 40-year acting career, mentioned Ahn Sung-ki, his mentor in the film industry and his "life partner," but ultimately could not continue speaking. And a day later, Park Joong-hoon's premonition became reality.
'National actor' Ahn Sung-ki died at 9 a.m. on the 5th at the age of 74.
Last year at Jeongdong 1928 Art Center on Deoksugung-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, a press conference was held to commemorate the publication of Park Joong-hoon's essay "Don't regret." At the event, Park Joong-hoon sat not as an actor but as a "writer" and took time to look back on his past 40 years. The book is an essay in which Park Joong-hoon, on the eve of his 40th anniversary since debut, recounts the joys and sorrows he experienced as an actor and as a person.
But the topic naturally shifted to Ahn Sung-ki. Park Joong-hoon said, "Hiding it doesn't mean it stays hidden. To be honest, it's been more than a year since I last saw the senior's face in person," and added, "His health is quite poor. Phone calls or text messages are also difficult, so I have been hearing about his condition from his family."
He went on to confess, "I speak calmly, but I'm really sad. It pains me more because I don't think the senior can fully feel that I have published a book."
Park Joong-hoon's confession continued on the previously aired Channel A documentary of close friends – a table for four. At a gathering with his close friends Hur Jae and Kim Min-jun, he described Ahn Sung-ki as "a partner and a father figure." "If I were a balloon, senior Ahn Sung-ki was the one who tied a stone to that balloon. Without that stone, it would have burst while flying," he said. He added, "Not long ago, I told him, 'Because you were in my life, my life was really good,' and he smiled faintly because he had little strength. I felt like crying, but I held it back," and choked up.
Ahn Sung-ki is an inseparable name in Park Joong-hoon's film life. The two appeared together in four films: Chilsu and Mansu, Two Cops, No Regret for My Actions, and Radio Star. Park Joong-hoon recalled, "All four works are representative works of my life, and they always enter senior Ahn Sung-ki's representative works as well," adding, "We made each other's representative works together."
He especially emphasized, "What actors call 'chemistry' among themselves often becomes a competition to stand out. But it was different with senior Ahn Sung-ki. I only thought about how I could respond to that person's acting. There was real synergy."
But on Jan. 5, yesterday, Park Joong-hoon said farewell forever to his respected senior Ahn Sung-ki. Ahn Sung-ki was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019 and had been battling the disease. In 2020 he was once declared cured, and afterwards he attended film festivals and award ceremonies, showing healthy appearances at times. However, after a relapse he entered treatment again, and recently he had stayed out of the public eye to concentrate on treatment.
According to The Korea Film Actors Association, Ahn Sung-ki collapsed at his home on the 30th of last month with food lodged in his throat and was transported to the hospital, and after receiving intensive care in an unconscious state, he passed away six days later with his family watching over him. His agency said, "Actor Ahn Sung-ki was a person who has been part of the history of Korean popular culture with a deep sense of duty to acting and consistent diligence," adding, "His acting was always directed toward people and life, and it conveyed deep resonance and comfort that transcended eras and generations."
The two supported each other's lives while making films together for more than 40 years. Perhaps because of that, Park Joong-hoon's calm voice saying "I'm really sad" remains longer and deeper than any eulogy. "Because you were in my life, my life was really good." Those words have now become a farewell forever.
[Photo] 'film stills, SNS, OSEN DB'
[OSEN]