'The late Ahn Sung-ki passed away on the 5th of last month while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Yongsan District, Seoul, with his family at his side. He was 74. Colleagues and figures from the film industry accompanied the deceased on his final journey, seeing off a great star of Korean cinema. In particular, Jung Woosung carrying the memorial portrait and Lee Jung-jae carrying the medal as they entered the cathedral added deep symbolism.'
That day, the eldest son and family representative, Ahn Da-bin, revealed a letter his father had left for him when he was young. He said, "While I was organizing the study without my father, I found a letter he wrote when I was five," and added, "Although it was written to me, it felt like words left for all of us, so I will read it."
In the letter, Ahn Sung-ki calmly wrote everything from the memory of their first meeting with his son to the values of life. "Da-bin, on the day you were first born into this world, tears welled up in my eyes." "I hope you become a humble, honest person who knows how to love others." "Become someone who can manage failure and sorrow with peace of mind." "Men should not lose ambition and courage and should keep challenging themselves." "What is indispensably needed in this world is, without doubt, a good person." was the message.
Although the deceased led a glamorous career as an actor, the words he left to his son—focused not on success but on 'character' and 'being humane'—left an even deeper impression.
Meanwhile, Ahn Da-bin, the deceased's eldest son, who works as a painter and installation artist, revealed his longing for his father on his social media on the 10th while announcing news of his solo exhibition. Ahn Da-bin wrote, "This became the only solo exhibition I couldn't report to my father," and added, "I have come to understand, a little, how to paint with my heart. Things he used to tell me are only now being heard."
The work he revealed, 'Unti_x_tled (Dad)', is one of the exhibition pieces prepared with his father's illness in mind. He said he boarded a plane to Seoul after hearing the urgent news about his father while adding layers to the work, adding to the sorrow. The unfinished painting became a piece symbolizing time stopped in itself and the moment of farewell.
The late Ahn Sung-ki, who ended his life after battling blood cancer, is remembered until the end as a dignified actor and a warm father. Although a great star of the film industry has set, a sentence he left his son is expected to remain for a long time.<
[Photo] 'Joint reporting team'
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