According to JoongAng, actor Ahn passed away surrounded by his family in the intensive care unit of Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Yongsan District, on the morning of 5/1. He had been admitted to the hospital in a coma after choking on food at his home on 30/12/2025.

A representative for his management company stated, "We pray for the actor's soul to rest in peace and extend our deepest condolences to his family."

Korean actor Ahn Sung Ki during his lifetime. Photo: Nate

Ahn Sung Ki's health had declined over the past five years. In 2022, he revealed he was battling blood cancer and halted all work for chemotherapy. At one point, his health improved, allowing him to appear at events wearing a wig. His manager noted that he persevered with treatment, hoping to return to the screen for new projects. Media reports indicate that before his hospitalization, he chaired a meeting for the Shin Young Kyun Art and Culture Foundation, where he served as chairman of the board.

Born in Seoul in 1952, Ahn Sung Ki graduated from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He began his acting career at age eight in director Kim Ki Young's 1957 film Twilight Train. According to the Korean Film Archive, he appeared in over 180 film and television productions during his more than 60-year career. Audiences across Asia remember him for films such as Stairway to Heaven, Two Cops, The Game, Radio Star, and Hansan: Rising Dragon.

He also starred in In the Name of the Son (2021), a film about a former police officer seeking redemption after the 1980 Gwangju massacre. Ahn received numerous accolades at the Blue Dragon Awards and Baeksang Awards, and was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea. He previously held positions as Vice President and President of the Korean Association of Film Actors, earning him the media moniker "national actor".

Ahn Sung Ki married sculptor Oh So Yeong in 1985 and they had two sons.

Cat Tien (according to JoongAng)