# Busan Film Festival Honors Late Actor Ahn Sung-ki With Six-Film Retrospective

- URL: https://hallyu-brief.vercel.app/en/news/busan-film-festival-honors-late-ahn-sung-ki-1f0770
- Published: 2026-10-17T13:26:55.201Z
- Publisher: Hallyu Brief

> The 31st Busan International Film Festival held a special retrospective honoring the late Korean national actor Ahn Sung-ki, who died in January.

## Key points

1. Six of Ahn's 1980s–1990s films were screened, all picked by Ahn himself years ago.
2. Audience occupancy topped 90%, with many young film fans attending.
3. Critic Jung Sung-il said Ahn was always polite and attentive in interviews.

## When and where was the Ahn Sung-ki program held?

The Busan International Film Festival hosted a special program called "The Beautiful Era, Ahn Sung-ki" at its 31st edition, which opened on October 6 and closes on October 15. According to the festival, the program's screenings were completed in mid-October.

## Which films were screened?

| Film | Director | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Waves Blow, Good Day | Lee Jang-ho | 1980 |
| Whale Hunting | Bae Chang-ho | 1984 |
| Chilsu and Mansu | Park Kwang-soo | 1988 |
| Gagman | Lee Myung-se | 1988 |
| White War | Chung Ji-young | 1992 |
| Festival | Im Kwon-taek | 1996 |

Ahn had personally recommended these titles when the program was first being planned several years earlier.

## Who joined the audience talks?

After the screenings, the directors of the films took the stage for audience talks. For "Festival," critic Jung Sung-il led a special talk. Actors Kim Bo-yeon, Kim Soo-chul, and Bae Jong-ok also attended and shared memories of working with Ahn.

## What did colleagues say about him?

Jung Sung-il said Ahn was always kind, treating everyone politely and respectfully, and that he gave his full attention to every question, even clumsy ones, in order to offer his best answer.

## For international fans

Ahn Sung-ki was one of South Korea's most respected film actors, with a career spanning decades. The festival also published a commemorative booklet, "Between Adventure and Model: Ahn Sung-ki, Actor of an Era," featuring essays by critics and interviews with actors.

## FAQ

### When did Ahn Sung-ki die?

According to the report, Ahn Sung-ki died in January 2026.

### Which Ahn Sung-ki films were shown at Busan?

Six films were screened: Waves Blow, Good Day (1980), Whale Hunting (1984), Chilsu and Mansu (1988), Gagman (1988), White War (1992), and Festival (1996).

### When does the Busan International Film Festival end?

The 31st festival began on October 6 and is scheduled to close on October 15, 2026.

## Sources

- [Yonhap News](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261014156300051)

_Written and translated with AI from official announcements and Korean media reports. If something is wrong, please let us know._