Six Masterpieces Left by Late Ahn Sung-ki Draw Crowds, Stirring Deep Longing: “An Actor Who Was Always Kind”

A special program honoring beloved veteran actor “Ahn Sung-ki,” who died in January this year, concluded successfully at the 31st “Busan International Film Festival.” Film fans from across generations continued to fill screenings, pushing “seat occupancy above 90%” and underscoring the public’s profound longing for a towering figure in Korean cinema.

Six landmark films spanning an era draw praise from audiences and critics

The retrospective screened six signature films from the 1980s and 1990s that Ahn had personally recommended during his lifetime. The lineup began with director Lee Jang-ho’s “Good Windy Days” (1980) and included “Whale Hunting” (1984), “Chil-su and Man-su” (1988), “The Comedian” (1988), “The White Badge” (1992) and “Festival” (1996)—monumental works in Korean film history that once again connected with audiences.

Director Lee Jang-ho, Bae Chang-ho, Park Kwang-soo, Lee Myung-se and Jung Ji-young, who helmed the respective films, along with actors Kim Bo-yeon, Kim Soo-chul and Bae Jong-ok, attended the guest talks held immediately after the screenings and reminisced about their precious time with Ahn. Jung Sung-il, the critic who led a special talk after the screening of “Festival,” paid tribute to Ahn, saying, “He was always courteous and kind to everyone, regardless of who they were. He was a true actor who focused completely on giving the best possible answer to every question.”

Tributes continue after festival closes as contemporary art offers a new view of the master actor

The “Busan International Film Festival” officially published “Between Adventure and Example: Ahn Sung-ki, an Actor of His Era,” a book combining critics’ reviews and interviews with his colleagues to commemorate his achievements through academic work. Jung Ji-hye, the programmer who oversaw the project, said, “The shared memories of Ahn and the masters who led the revival of Korean cinema will remain an unforgettable and deeply moving moment for audiences as well.”

Meanwhile, the 31st “Busan International Film Festival,” which opened on the 6th and affirmed its standing as Asia’s largest film festival, brought its 15-day run to a close on the 15th. The memorial exhibition “Film and Contemporary Art: In Memory of Ahn Sung-ki,” however, remains open to the public at Museum One in Haeundae-gu, Busan, through Dec. 27.