ENTERTAINMENT
Seong-gi Ahn receives the 4/19 Democracy and Peace Award
On the 19th, the 4th April 19 Democracy and Peace Award ceremony was held at the Korea Press Center in Taepyeong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. The 4·19 Democratic Peace Award was established by the Seoul National University College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association in 2020 to inherit and spread the '4·19 Revolutionary Spirit'. Seong-gi Ahn has been a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, an international relief fund, for 30 years since 1993 and has continued volunteer and relief work. He has served as the chairman of the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation since 2011 and was selected as an awardee in recognition of his contributions to leading public interest projects. . Previously, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Education and Culture Kim Jong-nam, and former Supreme Court Justice Kim Young-ran received this award.
Ahn Seong-gi said, "I believe that selecting me as the winner of the April 19 Democratic Peace Award, which was established in honor of the spirit of the April 19 Revolution, which became the foundation of the democratization movement toward democracy and the foundation of the constitutional spirit of our Republic of Korea, must have taken a more difficult decision than anything else. “I did it,” he said. He continued, “I thought it was probably thanks to the warm evaluation of my life and activities, which I have lived by thinking of a way to help people living in difficult situations across borders through UNICEF, rather than my career as a movie actor." He also expressed his gratitude, saying, "I have received many awards related to movies, but the April 19 Democratic Peace Award is a special award that is beyond me and makes me feel both proud and sorry that I have never experienced before."
Regarding the conflict between systems and ideologies, Ahn Seong-gi said, "I believe that regardless of ideology or system, in our human society, conflicts of interest create distrust and conflict structures between organizations and classes, and the representative factor that causes hatred, confrontation, and fights is those with power. “I have thought that it stems from the inability to bridge the gap between the two classes, the have-nots, the rich and the poor,” he said. He continued, “I hope to create a warm and courteous society where the powerful protect and respect the rights of the powerless, and where the wealthy promote consideration, service, and a culture of sharing and donation for the poor and underprivileged who are struggling.”
Ahn Seong-gi announced in September last year that he was suffering from blood cancer. Ahn Seong-gi, who had gray hair, said, "At a time when I was wondering what the last thing I should do in my life was, I developed health problems and suffered from illness for a while, but now I have almost recovered my health."
Ahn Seong-gi said, “I think this great award given to me is a precious and honorable gift that gave me the energy to have a new dream.” He added, “I will do my best with passion for the rest of my life, and I will do my best to raise the happiness index of our society. “I will not give up hope to find and sacrifice my name to God,” he pledged.
At the awards ceremony on this day, some scenes from the movies in which Ahn Sung-ki played the lead role were screened, including 'Two Cops', 'Nothing to Watch', 'Silmido', 'Radio Star', and 'Gorgeous' Vacation'. Younger actor Park Joong-hoon congratulated Ahn Seong-gi by sitting with the winner's family. In addition, Kim Dong-ho, former executive chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, delivered congratulatory remarks in a special congratulatory speech.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
