Ahn Sung-ki, South Korean Actor Dies at 74

Ahn Sung-ki, one of South Korea’s most revered actors who has appeared in more than 130 films, and whose work helped define modern Korean cinema, has died at the age of 74.

The actor’s agency, Artist Company, announced he passed away on January 5, 2026, at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Seoul after a prolonged battle with blood cancer. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.

Born January 1, 1952, in Daegu, Ahn entered the world of film as a child actor at the age of five in Kim Ki-young’s The Twilight Train (1957). Over the following six decades he became affectionately known as “the Nation’s Actor,” appearing in more than 130 films that charted the evolution of South Korean cinema from its early post-war period into the global era.

After establishing himself as a leading actor in the 1980s with A Fine, Windy Day (1980), for which he won the Best New Actor award at the Grand Bell Awards, he continued to deliver memorable performances across genres and decades. He starred in celebrated films including Mandala (1981), Whale Hunting (1984), and Two Cops (1993), displaying remarkable range from drama to comedy.

In the 2000s, Ahn continued to be central to major Korean cinema milestones. He appeared in Silmido (2003), the first South Korean film to surpass 10 million admissions, and Radio Star (2006), where he portrayed a devoted celebrity manager with depth and warmth. His filmography also included roles in Unbowed (2011), The Divine Fury (2019) and Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022).

Ahn’s last released film credit was Noryang: Deadly Sea (2023), directed by Kim Han-min, in which he played an officer assisting Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the Japanese invasions of Korea.

Ahn Sung-ki is survived by his wife, Oh So-young, and their two sons.