The screens may go silent but some faces never really leave us. South Korean cinema is mourning the loss of Ahn Sung-ki, the legendary actor generations grew up watching, trusting and quietly admiring. He passed away on January 5 at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy that shaped Korean films for over six decades.
Ahn Sung-ki began acting when he was just five years old, debuting in The Twilight Train (1957). As a child, he appeared in nearly 70 films, becoming one of the most recognizable young faces of his time. In his teenage years, he stepped away from cinema, choosing a quieter life and later studying Vietnamese at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies where he graduated with top honours.
Life didn’t immediately roll out opportunities after college. But Ahn returned to acting in 1977, believing he still had something to offer.
His adult breakthrough came with Lee Jang-ho’s Good, Windy Days (1980). The film struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, earning Ahn the Grand Bell Award for Best New Actor. From there his journey grew stronger.
Over the years, he played roles that stayed with people, a monk in Mandara, a corrupt cop in Two Cops, a soldier in Silmido and a gentle manager in Radio Star, a role he once said felt closest to who he really was.
Off-screen, Ahn was just as respected. He served as chair of the Korean Film Actors Association, supported film workers during industry shifts, and worked as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador for decades. His calm nature and scandal-free life earned him the title “The Nation’s Actor” with all respect.
Ahn Sung-ki is survived by his wife Oh So-yeong and their two sons. His final film, Noryang: Deadly Sea, was released in 2023.
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source https://lehren.com/the-nations-actor-no-more-south-koreas-ahn-sung-ki-passes-away-at-74/
