Korean cinema's towering figure, the late Ahn Sung-gi's final journey was not lonely. Junior actors Jung Woosung and Lee Jung-jae volunteered as chief mourners and accompanied him on his final path, and many figures, including the "king of singers" Cho Yong-pil, who shared 60 years with him, visited the wake to offer tearful farewells.
On the 5th, at room 31 of the funeral hall at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital in Seocho District, Seoul, the late Ahn Sung-gi's wake drew a steady stream of figures from the film industry. Listed as chief mourners were his wife, Oh So-young, and his two sons, and Jung Woosung and Lee Jung-jae, who had been with the late actor at the same agency during his life, stood by a corner of the wake to personally receive mourners. The two are scheduled to participate in the procession on the 9th to accompany him on his final journey.
Among those who visited the wake, the mourner who moved people the most was the singer Cho Yong-pil, the late actor's "60-year close friend." He recalled that they met as childhood classmates sitting side by side and had been together throughout their lives, and he conveyed his memories of long years with Ahn Sung-gi.
Cho Yong-pil said, "When he was hospitalized last time I came. I thought he had been discharged well and was fine, but suddenly this happened again and it's so tragic. He probably still had so many things he wanted to do, and he couldn't overcome it," expressing deep sorrow.
He continued, "As a friend, he has been a very good friend since childhood. He had a good personality. He was in the same class, my seat was next to his. Our homes were similar so we used to walk together. (Facing the portrait) it brings back old memories. When we were kids, after school we always went home together," he recalled.
He also said, "I hope he's comfortable even after he goes up. Don't hold too much regret. He has a family. I hope he can continue any remaining acting work up there," and added, "Go well, I want to tell him to rest comfortably up there," then finally left the farewell, "Sung-gi, see you again," adding to the poignancy.
In addition, numerous figures across film and culture, including Park Joong-hoon, director Im Kwon-taek, Shin Hyun-joon, Kim Dong-hyun, Lee Duk-hwa, director Lee Joon-ik, Jin Sun-kyu, Jung Jin-young, Kwon Sang Woo, Song Seungheon, Choi Soo-jong, Park Kyung-lim, Kim Gyuri, Song Kang-ho, Park Hae-jin, Zo In-sung, music critic Lim Jin-mo, and Cho Guk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, visited the wake to accompany the late actor on his final journey.
Earlier, the government decided to award the late Ahn Sung-gi the gold crown cultural medal, the highest honor in popular culture and the arts. On the day, Chae Hwi-young, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, personally visited the wake to present the medal and mourned, "I cannot contain my deep sorrow that Korea's most beautiful film actor, Ahn Sung-gi, has left us so early."
Meanwhile, the late actor passed away on the morning of the day at 9 a.m. while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Yongsan District, Seoul, surrounded by family. He was 74.
Originally diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019 and declared cured, the late Ahn Sung-gi experienced a recurrence of the cancer six months later and continued to battle the disease. Then, on the 30th of last month he was found at home with food lodged in his throat and in cardiac arrest and was transported to the emergency room. He had been treated in the intensive care unit in an unconscious state but ultimately did not recover.
The late actor's funeral will be held as a film industry funeral under the auspices of the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation and the The Korea Film Actors Association. Film figures including Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woosung will participate in the procession to see him off. The funeral procession will be at 6 a.m. on the 9th, and the burial site is Yangpyeong Byeolgeulida.
[photo] Photo joint coverage team, OSEN DB
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