A giant of the Korean film industry and the 'national actor,' the late Ahn Sung-ki, departs on his final journey amid farewells from colleagues and juniors in the film world.
At 8 a.m. on the 9th, Ahn Sung-ki's funeral mass will be held at Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul. In accordance with the wishes of the deceased, who was a devout Catholic, the mass will be conducted in a reverent atmosphere, and at 9 a.m. that day a memorial service for film figures will be held at the Myeongdong Cathedral chapel hall.
At the memorial service that day, Jung Woosung and Lee Jung-jae, who had kept vigil at the bereavement room as heads of the deceased's agency Artist Company, will lead the procession. The two will carry the deceased's portrait and the Order of Cultural Merit and lead the procession, respectively.
In the procession, younger actors representing the Korean film industry, including Sul Kyung-gu, Park Chul-min, Yoo Ji-tae, Park Hae-il, Cho Woo-jin, and Ju Jihoon, participated in place of Lee Byung-hun, who had been previously reported, to send him off on his final journey. Director Bae Chang-ho, who had a deep relationship with the deceased during his lifetime, and junior actor Jung Woosung will deliver eulogies to honor him.
Ahn Sung-ki, who died at the age of 74, debuted as a child actor in 1957 and appeared in some 160 works over nearly 70 years, personally writing the history of Korean cinema. He left behind numerous masterpieces such as 'A Windy Good Day,' 'Radio Star,' and 'Shiri,' and was also the owner of the "triple crown," sweeping the best actor awards at the Grand Bell Awards, the Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards.
Especially since 2019, despite battling blood cancer, he continued his work in films such as 'Hansan: Rising Dragon' and 'Birth,' and even with mobility difficulties attended film industry events to encourage juniors, fulfilling his calling as 'film figure Ahn Sung-ki' until the end.
Ahn Sung-ki was rushed to the hospital after a sudden accident on the 30th of last month and received intensive care but ultimately did not recover and passed away at his family's side on the morning of the 5th. After the news, waves of mourning continued across the entertainment industry and other sectors, and many people visited the public memorial space set up at the Seoul Film Center to pay their respects.
The funeral, held with film industry honors, will conclude with the memorial service. The deceased's remains will be interred at 'Byeolgeurida' in Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi, where he will rest in eternal peace.
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