'national actor' Ahn Sung-ki died after a seven-year battle with illness. He was 74. He, who had been the face of Korean cinema for a generation, finally fell asleep as one of the great stars of the film world. His final moments standing before the camera even while battling blood cancer were all the more heart-wrenching.
SBS on the 9th specially scheduled a tribute documentary
Ahn Sung-ki closed his eyes on the morning of the 5th at 9 a.m. while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit, with family watching. Having debuted as a child actor at the age of only five, he lived as Korean cinema itself, appearing in more than 170 works over 69 years. In life he was so devoted to acting that he once said he wanted to be with audiences through entertaining films for as long as he had strength.
Actor Jung Jae-young recalled the time of filming the movie Silmido, saying,
Junior actor Han Ye-ri also said,
In September 2022, Ahn Sung-ki's appearance at a public event while undergoing chemotherapy shocked the film world. Despite a swollen face, a wig and a weakened voice, he stood before the camera.
News of his death spread beyond Korea to overseas. The deceased's eldest son and artist Ahn Da-bin on the 6th shared a link to The New York Times obituary on his social media without comment. The New York Times introduced him under the headline
The article also quoted a condolence message from President Lee Jae-myung. The president said he
On Dec. 30 last year, while battling blood cancer, Ahn Sung-ki choked on food at home and collapsed, receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation and being transported to the hospital. He was thereafter treated in the intensive care unit but ultimately did not recover.
With the president's official condolences and coverage by major international media, Ahn Sung-ki no longer remains merely an actor of one country. He was an
[photo] 'SNS'
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