Actor Ahn Sung-ki. Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

Director Lee Joon-ik, who worked with him on the film ‘Radio Star’ (2006), paid tribute to the late actor Ahn Sung-ki.

On the 5th, Director Lee told ‘Sports Kyunghyang’, “As an actor, conventional praise is only natural for a senior like him, to the point that it even feels insufficient. What remains with me even more is his beautiful heart in sincerely treating colleagues and juniors on set beyond the films.”

From left, Park Joong-hoon, director Lee Joon-ik, and the late Ahn Sung-ki on the set of ‘Radio Star’, photo courtesy | distributor.

Director Lee completed ‘Radio Star’ with the late Ahn Sung-ki and Park Joong-hoon, enjoying strong popularity with a cumulative audience of 1.59 million. In the film, the manager ‘Park Min-soo’ played by Ahn Sung-ki quietly stayed by the side of the washed-up pop star Choi Gon (Park Joong-hoon), appearing as a guide who supports him and leaving a good impression.

He said, “Perhaps the character ‘Park Min-soo’ shown in ‘Radio Star’ was similar to the late Ahn Sung-ki’s real demeanor. He treated people sincerely, always looked after them warmly, and silently believed in them,” adding, “I also want to send eternal gratitude for that attitude of his.”

He continued, “We have known for a long time that he was battling illness, so it seems our role is to let him go well with love,” adding that he would soon visit the mourning hall.

Meanwhile, according to his agency Artist Company, Ahn Sung-ki passed away at 9 a.m. that day. He was 74. It came six days after he collapsed at home on the 30th of last month with food lodged in his throat and was hospitalized in the intensive care unit in an unconscious state.

The funeral will be held as a film industry funeral under the auspices of the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation and the Korea Film Actors Association. Honorary funeral committee chair Shin Young-kyun; director Bae Chang-ho; Lee Gap-seong, chairman of the Korea Film Actors Association; Shin Eon-sik, acting head of the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation; and Yang Yoon-ho, chairman of the Korea Filmmakers Association, will conduct the funeral, with four of them serving as co-chairs.

The wake will be set up in Room 31 of the funeral hall at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital; the funeral procession will take place at 6 a.m. on the 9th, and the burial site is Byeolgeurida in Yangpyeong.