Korea’s legendary screen icon Ahn Sung-ki has been laid to rest, surrounded by deep respect and quiet grief from the film community he helped shape for more than six decades.
On the morning of January 9, a funeral Mass was held at Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul. The ceremony marked the final farewell to an actor widely regarded as the moral and artistic backbone of Korean cinema. The service followed the official procession from Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital earlier that morning.
Fellow Actors and Filmmakers Gather in Mourning
The solemn Mass was attended by numerous figures from the Korean film industry. Jung Woo-sung carried the late actor’s portrait as he entered the cathedral, while Lee Jung-jae escorted the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, honoring Ahn’s lifelong contributions to the arts.
Actors including Hyun Bin, Byun Yo-han, Seol Kyung-gu, Yoo Ji-tae, Park Hae-il, Jo Woo-jin, and Joo Ji-hoon were among those who joined the procession, many serving as pallbearers. Their presence reflected the profound respect Ahn commanded across generations of performers.
Final Words of Tribute
During the memorial service, director Bae Chang-ho, who served as a co-chair of the funeral committee, delivered a eulogy honoring Ahn Sung-ki’s integrity, humility, and devotion to cinema. Jung Woo-sung, Ahn’s longtime colleague and junior, also shared words of remembrance. Ahn’s eldest son addressed attendees on behalf of the family, followed by a flower tribute.
The cremation was conducted at Seoul Memorial Park, with Ahn’s final resting place prepared in Yangpyeong.
A Life That Defined Korean Cinema
Ahn Sung-ki passed away on January 5 at the age of 74. He had been receiving treatment following cardiac arrest in late December. Although he previously achieved remission after being diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019, the illness later returned.
Debuting as a child actor in 1957, Ahn built an extraordinary career spanning more than 60 years, starring in countless landmark films and earning the enduring title of “the nation’s actor.” His legacy lives on not only through his body of work, but also through the generations of artists he inspired.
As the curtains close on one of Korea’s most cherished cinematic lives, the industry he helped build stands united in remembrance.