The "people's actor," the late Ahn Sung-ki, was laid to rest on the 9th. His eldest son, writer Ahn Da-bin, read a letter his father wrote during his lifetime at the funeral and delivered Ahn Sung-ki's message to "live as a good person."
That morning, a film community funeral service for the deceased was solemnly held at the Familia Chapel Hall of Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul. After a funeral Mass presided over by Archbishop Jeong Sun-taek of the Archdiocese of Seoul, the funeral ceremony continued from 9 a.m. with family members and fellow film figures in attendance.
On this day, actors Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae of Artist Company, the same agency as the deceased, carried the portrait and the Order of Cultural Merit, respectively. Actors Sul Kyung-gu, Park Chul-min, Yoo Ji-tae, Park Hae-il, Cho Woo-jin, and Ju Jihoon served as pallbearers, accompanying the deceased on the final journey.
The late Ahn Sung-ki's eldest son, writer Ahn Da-bin, said, "On behalf of our family, I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone who attended and saw him off even during the busy morning hours," adding, "I believe he will carry on the professional spirit of a film artist in heaven."
Ahn read a letter he found that day while organizing the late Ahn Sung-ki's study.
Regarding the letter, Ahn said, "When I was five years old, my father wrote me a letter. He wrote it to me, but I think he left it for all of us, so I will read it."
The letter said, "I hope Da-bin always becomes a person who is humble and honest and has a broad heart that knows how to love me," and, "Do your best in your work, know how to keep time, and become someone who can govern failure and sorrow with peace of mind."
It also carried the message, "A man must not lose ambition and courage. Do not lose yourself in the face of any difficulty, and keep challenging without end."
Ahn shed tears as he read the sentence, "Do not forget that what is truly irreplaceably necessary in this world is a good person, 1993, from Dad."
The late Ahn Sung-ki died on the morning of the 5th at age 74. He was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019 and had been battling the disease; he was declared fully recovered in 2020 but later suffered a recurrence and focused on treatment. On the 30th of last month, he collapsed with food stuck in his throat, was admitted to the intensive care unit, and did not regain consciousness.
The late Ahn Sung-ki's funeral was conducted as a film community funeral under the auspices of the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation and The Korea Film Actors Association. Veteran actor Shin Young-kyun served as honorary funeral committee chair, and director Bae Chang-ho, Lee Gap-seong, chair of The Korea Film Actors Association, Shin Eon-sik, acting head of the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation, and Yang Yoon-ho, chair of the Korea Film Council, served as co-chairs of the funeral committee.
The cremation will take place at the Seoul Memorial Park, and the burial site is Byeolgeurida-da in Yangpyeong.