Veteran actor Ahn Sung Ki has passed away at the age of 74.
On the morning of January 5, Ahn Sung Ki’s agency Artist Company announced the tragic news that the actor passed away at around 9 a.m. KST. The actor was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019 and had been undergoing treatment. He was declared cured the following year, but the cancer recurred during recent follow-up monitoring, and he continued to focus on treatment until recently.
Read the agency’s full statement below:
This is Artist Company, the agency representing actor Ahn Sung Ki.
Actor Ahn Sung Ki passed away at 9:00 a.m. on January 5, 2026 at the age of 74.
With a profound sense of duty to his craft and unwavering sincerity, Ahn Sung Ki walked alongside the history of Korean popular culture.
His performances were always directed toward people and life itself, and through countless projects, he offered deep resonance and comfort across eras and generations.
Above all, before he was an actor, he cherished dignity and responsibility as a human being, consistently showing respect for senior and junior artists alike and for everyone on set. He was a “national actor” in the truest sense.
Artist Company is deeply saddened by this sudden news. We pray for the repose of the deceased and extend our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.
Ahn Sung Ki entered the film industry as a child actor in director Kim Ki Young’s 1957 film “The Twilight Train” and went on to appear in more than 170 films including “Mandala,” “Two Cops,” “Nowhere to Hide,” “The Devine Fury,” and “Hansan: Rising Dragon.”
We offer our deepest condolences to Ahn Sung Ki’s family and loved ones. May he rest in peace.