Ahn Sung Ki has passed away on the morning of January 5th after a long battle with blood cancer. He was 74.
Ahn passed away around 9 AM at the hospital where he had been receiving inpatient treatment. His wife, sculptor Oh So Young, and his two sons, Davin and Philip, were reportedly by his side during his final moments.
The beloved actor had been fighting blood cancer since 2019. Though he announced that he was fully recovered in 2020 after chemotherapy, the cancer recurred during follow-up observations. He suspended his activities and focused entirely on treatment. His health deteriorated suddenly on December 30th, and he was transferred to the intensive care unit, where he remained until his passing.
Ahn was a giant of Korean cinema, with a career that spanned more than half a century and over 160 films. He made his debut in 1957 at just five years old in director Kim Ki Young’s Twilight Train, famously appearing alongside his father, veteran filmmaker Ahn Hwa Young.
He transitioned successfully to adult roles in 1980 with Good Windy Days. He went on to spearhead the golden age of Korean cinema in the 1980s and 90s with classics like Whale Hunting (1984), Chilsu and Mansu (1988) and the buddy-cop hit Two Cops (1993).
He remained active well into his later years, starring in films such as The Divine Fury (2019) and the blockbuster Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022).
In a 2019 interview marking his 62nd year in the industry, Ahn reflected on his longevity with characteristic humility. “I am grateful just to be able to make films I love and want to make for such a long time,” he said. “I believe one should live consistently, without losing their initial resolve. As an actor and as a person, I strive to be considerate of others and live humbly.”
He lived by those words, serving as chairman of the Shin Young Kyun Arts and Culture Foundation and leading scholarship programs for the children of artists. He donated 100 million won ($75,000) to Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital to help underprivileged patients even while battling his illness.
Ahn received over 40 major awards throughout his career, including multiple Grand Bell Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards. Internationally, he was recognized at festivals in Japan and France and became the first Korean actor to leave his handprints on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2013, he was awarded the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit by the South Korean government.
A wake will be set up at the Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital Funeral Home.
>> Ahn Sung Ki Rushed to ER in Cardiac Arrest While Battling Blood Cancer
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