Ahn Sung-ki, revered actor who shaped Korean cinema, dies at 74

Ahn Sung-ki greets fans on the red carpet at the 7th Korean Film Awards at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul in 2008. (Yonhap)

Ahn Sung-ki, one of South Korea’s most beloved and respected actors, died Monday. He was 74.

Ahn had been receiving treatment in an intensive care unit, with his family at his side, according to officials. He had been hospitalized in an unconscious state for six days after collapsing on Dec. 30 while eating at his home.

The actor had been living with blood cancer since 2019 and had recently been focusing on recovery while preparing to return to acting. Though declared to be in remission in 2020, later follow-up examinations revealed the cancer had returned. His hospitalization in October 2020 sparked concerns about his health, and he disclosed his illness in 2022.

In 2023, Ahn vowed to “return with a new film” and drew prolonged applause when he appeared at the opening ceremony of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival alongside actors Park Joong-hoon and Choi Min-sik.

A towering figure in Korean cinema, Ahn was beloved for his integrity and humility. He began his career as a child actor in director Kim Ki-young’s "The Twilight Train" (1957) and went on to appear in more than 170 films over nearly seven decades, helping shape the modern history of Korean film.

He is survived by his wife and two sons.