Actors Lee Byung-hun and Rhee Minjung showed a distinct demeanor as they mourned the final journey of the late Ahn Sung-ki.
Ahn Sung-ki passed away at the age of 74 on the morning of the 5th at 9 a.m. while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, with family by his side. It was six days after he collapsed at his home on the 30th of last month with food lodged in his throat and was transported to the hospital and treated in an unconscious state.
As the sad news spread, tributes poured in from all walks of life. The archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul, Jeong Soon-taek, expressed deep condolences at the news of the passing of the late Ahn Sung-ki, who was a devout Catholic in life, and the Korean Committee for UNICEF, where the late actor had long served as a goodwill ambassador, also expressed its condolences.
Many stars, including Kim Jong-soo, Hwang Jae-geun, Shin Hyun-joon, Bae Chul-soo, Lee Young-ae, Yoon Jongshin, and Lee Si-eon, shared messages of mourning on social media. Among them, Rhee Minjung attended the 2026 First Brand Awards ceremony held at the Shilla Hotel in Jangchung-dong, Seoul, on the 6th and was named the winner in the celebrity YouTuber category.
When asked to pose with a heart gesture at the photo wall that day, Rhee Minjung politely declined, saying, "Today…" which drew attention. She did not give a specific reason, but the reason was that news of the death of her senior, the late Ahn Sung-ki, had been heard the day before. After finishing the awards schedule, Rhee Minjung immediately visited the deceased's funeral site to pay her respects.
Also that day, Rhee Minjung posted on social media, "I went to pay respects to my teacher, and I was surprised that this photo suddenly came up. A truly warm and wonderful teacher, I will always remember you," and released a photo taken with Ahn Sung-ki.
Her husband, Lee Byung-hun, is scheduled to participate in the transport of the deceased and see him off on his final journey along with actors Lee Jung-jae, Jung Woosung, and Park Chul-min. In Lee Byung-hun's case, he voiced a role alongside the late actor in the 2002 animated film Mari's Story, and in 2012 he attended a hand-printing event at the Hollywood Grauman's Chinese Theatre as the first Asian actor to do so together, making it more meaningful.
Netizens also sympathized with the couple's way of mourning, commenting, "It's an awards ceremony, but they considered the deceased until the end and had a respectful attitude," and "We offer our deepest condolences."
Meanwhile, the late Ahn Sung-ki's funeral wake was set up at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital funeral hall No. 31. The funeral procession will be held at 6 a.m. on the 9th, and a farewell ceremony will be held at Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul, at 9 a.m. the same day. The burial site is Yangpyeong Byeolgeurida.
[Photos] OSEN DB, photo joint coverage team, Rhee Minjung SNS
[OSEN]