'National Actor' Ahn Sungki Passes Away at 74 (Update)

Collapsed Due to Airway Blockage Six Days Ago
A 69-Year Journey in Cinema Comes to an End

'National Actor' Ahn Sungki passed away on January 5. He was 74 years old.

The Korean Actors Association announced that the late actor passed away peacefully in the intensive care unit of Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Seoul at around 9 a.m. on this day, with his family by his side.

The immediate cause was an unexpected accident. On December 30 of last year, he collapsed at home after food blocked his airway. He was immediately taken to the hospital and received treatment, but after six days in a coma, he ultimately did not recover.

He had been battling blood cancer since being diagnosed in 2019. The sorrow is even greater as he had recently been making efforts to recover his health and was determined to return.

He made his debut as a child actor in the 1957 film 'Twilight Train' and spent his entire life with Korean cinema. Over 69 years, he appeared in more than 170 films, including 'Mandala,' 'Two Cops,' 'Nowhere to Hide,' and 'Revivre.' He earned the public's respect for his outstanding acting skills and upright character.

The funeral will be held at the funeral hall of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.