Top Stories 26/01/05 Korean archbishop mourns death of Catholic film legend

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Ahn Sung-ki was among 30 Catholics who appeared in a 2014 music video marking Pope Francis’ visit to South Korea

This picture taken on Oct. 6, 2021, shows South Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki posing on the red carpet during the opening ceremony of the 26th Busan International Film Festival in Busan. The veteran actor, who appeared in more than 170 films over nearly seven decades, died on Jan. 5, local media reported. He was 74. (Photo: AFP)

By UCA News reporter

Published: January 06, 2026 10:59 AM GMT

Updated: January 06, 2026 11:11 AM GMT

A South Korean archbishop has mourned the death of Ahn Sung-ki, one of the country’s most acclaimed film stars and a Catholic, calling him a “bright light” in Korean society.

“We express our deepest sorrow and condolences,” Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul said in a condolence message published on the archdiocese’s website Jan. 5.

Chung said Ahn, widely known as “the nation’s actor,” left a “deep impression on our society.”

Ahn died Jan. 5 at age 74 after a career spanning nearly seven decades and more than 170 films, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported. He had been battling blood cancer and was receiving treatment in an intensive care unit after choking on food last week. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

A towering figure in South Korea’s film industry, Ahn made his debut at age 5 in the 1957 movie The Twilight Train. He was revered by audiences and colleagues for his prolific career and scandal-free life, a rarity in the entertainment industry.

Chung said Ahn left a distinct mark on the history of Korean cinema.

“Through his acting, he conveyed hope, comfort, and warm happiness to the nation,” Chung said. “The sincerity in his works has long remained in the hearts of many across generations and eras, becoming a bright light in our society.”

Chung also noted that Ahn, as a Catholic, showed concern for his neighbors and maintained “a warm gaze toward the underprivileged.”

“Through donations and good deeds, he spread hope for a world in which we live together,” Chung said. “This has become a valuable example for many.”

Ahn was among 30 Catholics who appeared in the 2014 music video “Koinonia” commemorating Pope Francis’ visit to South Korea.

Chung said Koreans will long remember the sincerity and kindness Ahn left behind through both his films and his life.

Ahn’s career tracked the rise of South Korean cinema from modest beginnings to global prominence. He rose to fame in the 1980s with popular films such as Whale Hunting (1984) and Our Sweet Days of Youth (1987).

His 2003 blockbuster Silmido, based on the true story of a secret South Korean special forces unit formed from former inmates and tasked with assassinating the North Korean leader, became the first South Korean film to surpass 10 million admissions.

His later works included Hanbando (2006), Unbowed (2011), and Hansan: Rising Dragon(2022).