On January 4, Ahn Da Bin posted a single photo on his personal social media account. The image showed a photo book by To the Starry Islandone of Ahn Sung Ki’s films in which he starred as the protagonist. No caption accompanied the post, yet the silence spoke volumes, conveying a deep sense of grief and memory that resonated with many.
Ahn Sung Ki died on the morning of January 5 at 9 am while being treated in the intensive care unit of Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Yongsan, Seoul. He was 74 years old.
The late actor had collapsed at his home on the afternoon of December 30, 2025 while eating, after food became lodged in his airways. He was transported to a nearby hospital in cardiac arrest and received CPR before being admitted to intensive care. Despite six days of intensive care, he ultimately did not recover.
His agency, Artist Company, released an official statement expressing sorrow over the sudden loss. “Before he was an actor, Ahn Sung Ki was a person who valued dignity and responsibility above all else, and showed unwavering respect towards fellow artists, young people, old people and everyone on the set,” we read in the press release. “He was a true ‘national actor’ in every sense of the word. We deeply mourn his passing and express our sincere condolences to his bereaved family.”
Ahn Sung Ki’s funeral will be held as a film industry funeral, organized by the Shin Young Kyun Arts & Culture Foundation and the Korea Film Actors Association. Fellow actors Lee Jung Jae and Jung Woo Sung are expected to serve as pallbearers, accompanying him on his final journey.
Born in 1957, Ahn Sung Ki made his acting debut in the film Twilight Train and went on to build an extraordinary career that has spanned decades. He has become a symbol of Korean cinema through acclaimed works such as A beautiful windy day, A dwarf throws a ball, Our joyful youthful days, Two policemen, Nowhere to hide, Radio starAND May 18th. His legacy as a “national actor” remains deeply imprinted in the hearts of the public.
Sources: Daum
