South Korean Film Icon Ahn Sung-ki Dies at 74

SEOUL, South Korea — Ahn Sung-ki, one of South Korea’s most revered film actors whose six-decade career and gentle public image earned him the title “The Nation’s Actor,” died on Monday. He was 74.

Ahn, who had been battling blood cancer for several years, died at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Seoul, according to his agency Artist Company and hospital officials.

In a statement, Artist Company expressed deep sorrow over his passing and offered condolences to his family.

President Lee Jae Myung also paid tribute, saying Ahn brought comfort, joy and reflection to countless people through his work. “I already miss his warm smile and gentle voice,” the president wrote on Facebook.

Ahn Sung-ki’s death marks the end of an era in South Korean cinema, where he remained a beloved figure across generations.