Ahn Sung-ki’s 5 best movies: remembering the iconic Korean film actor, who died aged 74
Known affectionately as ‘The Nation’s Actor’, South Korea’s Ahn Sung-ki starred in more than 100 feature films during his long career
Celebrated South Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki died on January 5, just four days after celebrating his 74th birthday. Known affectionately as “The Nation’s Actor”, Ahn starred in more than 100 feature films over the course of a career that spanned almost his entire life.
After a hiatus for education and mandatory military service, Ahn made a triumphant return to acting, winning the best new actor prize at the 1980 Grand Bell Awards for his performance as a lovestruck restaurant worker in Lee Jang-ho’s A Fine, Windy Day.
After that, the veteran performer barely stopped working, displaying a remarkable versatility that earned him numerous accolades and unwavering popularity right to the end. Most recently, he featured in the period action sequel Noryang: Deadly Sea (2023).
Throughout his career, Ahn collaborated with many of Korea’s most revered filmmakers, frequently re-teaming with directors such as Im Kwon-taek, Kim Ki-young, Chung Ji-young and Lee Myung-se.