Ahn Sung-ki, a living witness of Korean film history and the eternal national actor, embarks on his final journey amid the deep mourning of colleagues and juniors.
At around 7 AM on the 9th, the funeral procession for Ahn Sung-ki was solemnly conducted at the funeral hall of Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Numerous junior actors who have respected the deceased gathered to accompany him on his last journey. Actor Jung Woo-sung carried the portrait of the deceased, while Lee Jung-jae held the Gold Medal of Cultural Merit awarded by the government, leading the procession. Seol Kyung-gu, Park Cheol-min, Yoo Ji-tae, Park Hae-il, Jo Woo-jin, and Ju Ji-hoon carried the coffin to honor him.
Behind the deceased's two sons, junior actors representing the film industry, including Jung Joon-ho, Hyun Bin, and Byun Yo-han, followed with solemn expressions, paying their final respects to their great senior. After the procession, the funeral march headed to Myeongdong Cathedral to pray for the deceased's peace.
At 8 AM that day, a memorial mass was held at Myeongdong Cathedral, officiated by Archbishop Jeong Soon-taek of the Archdiocese of Seoul, followed by the funeral ceremony attended by colleagues from the film industry and family members starting at 9 AM.
Ahn Sung-ki fell into a state of unconsciousness due to an incident where food got stuck in his throat on the 30th of last month and had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit, but ultimately could not recover and passed away at 9 AM on the 5th at the age of 74. He had previously been diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019 and had been battling it, receiving a remission diagnosis once, but it was known that he had been fighting against the illness for a long time due to a recurrence, adding to the sorrow.
The funeral was held as a film industry funeral to honor the achievements of the deceased. During the period the mortuary was set up, people from all walks of life, as well as the film industry, continued to visit to commemorate the footprints left by the deceased. The government posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Cultural Merit on the day of his passing, recognizing his contributions to the growth of the Korean film industry.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated that Ahn Sung-ki was a figure who spanned generations with his acting, having shared his life with Korean film history, and evaluated him as a national actor who symbolized the industrial growth of Korean cinema in the 1990s and 2000s and greatly contributed to the cultural expansion.
Although Ahn Sung-ki, who was a strong pillar of Korean cinema, has passed away, the numerous masterpieces and his warm personality he left behind are expected to remain forever in the memories of filmmakers and the public.
