The funeral of the beloved South Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki, who passed away at the age of 74, will be conducted as a film industry funeral over five days, organized by the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation and the Korean Actors Association. A separate memorial space for the public will also be available.
Park Sang-won, a director at the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation, announced at the funeral hall at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital on the 5th that "the five-day funeral was decided at the request of the bereaved family." He added, "As the deceased was a devout Catholic during his lifetime, a Catholic memorial mass will be held at 6 a.m. on Friday, the 9th, followed by a funeral service at 7 a.m. organized by the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation and the Korean Actors Association."
A memorial space for those wishing to pay their respects to Ahn Sung-ki will be set up at the Chungmuro Film Center. The memorial space will be open from 4 p.m. on the 5th until 6 p.m. on the 8th. The Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation stated, "Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon suggested setting up a memorial space for the general public."
The Korean Actors Association also conveyed that "according to the family, Ahn Sung-ki's last appearance was very peaceful, as if he were asleep."
Ahn Sung-ki passed away at 9 a.m. on the 5th. He had collapsed at home on December 30th last year while eating, with food obstructing his airway. Despite receiving CPR and being transported to a nearby hospital's emergency room, he was unable to regain consciousness after being admitted to the intensive care unit.
The actor had been battling blood cancer until his death. He was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019 and was declared cured in 2020 after treatment, but the disease recurred six months later during follow-up observation.
The funeral will be solemnly conducted as a film industry funeral, 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, Korean Actors Association Chairman Lee Gap-sung, Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation Acting Director Shin Eon-sik, and Korean Film Association Chairman Yang Yoon-ho. Additionally, film industry figures such as Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung will serve as pallbearers. The funeral hall is located in room 31 at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and the burial will take place at Byeolgeurida in Yangpyeong on the morning of the 9th.
Reported by Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia bella@tenasia.co.kr