The beloved South Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki has passed away, and his memorable moment from four years ago at the Grand Bell Awards is once again capturing the public's attention. Despite his battle with blood cancer, Ahn's passion for acting remained undiminished, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.
In 2022, Ahn Sung-ki was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 58th Grand Bell Awards. During his acceptance speech, delivered via video due to his health condition, Ahn expressed his gratitude.
Ahn began by congratulating the year's award recipients and extended his heartfelt thanks to fellow filmmakers and movie lovers. He reflected, "I thought I would never age while living as an actor for so long, but recently, I've realized that time and age are unstoppable."
Ahn also acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors and peers in the Korean film industry. He stated, "Our films are now receiving global attention. This glory is rooted in the efforts of our senior filmmakers and the talent and hard work of our current filmmakers." He expressed his hopes for the continued growth of Korean cinema and thanked the organizers of the Grand Bell Awards.
In his New Year's message, Ahn reassured fans about his health, saying, "Many are concerned about my health, but I am improving and look forward to meeting you all with a new film. Thank you." His unwavering passion for acting was evident.
Ahn Sung-ki passed away on the morning of the 5th at the age of 74. He collapsed at home on December 30th while eating, with food obstructing his airway. Despite receiving CPR and being rushed to a nearby hospital's emergency room, he remained in a coma and did not regain consciousness.
Ahn had been battling blood cancer until his passing. Diagnosed in 2019, he achieved remission in 2020, but the disease recurred six months later during follow-up observations.
His funeral will be held as a film industry ceremony, organized by the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation and the Korean Actors Association. Honorary funeral committee members include Shin Young-kyun, director Bae Chang-ho, and others. Fellow actors Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung will serve as pallbearers. The wake is set at Room 31 of the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Funeral Hall, with the funeral service scheduled for 6 a.m. on the 9th. He will be laid to rest at Byeolgeurida in Yangpyeong.
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr