Ahn Sung-ki (Korean: 안성기; born January 1, 1952[1]) is a South Korean actor. One of the country's most respected actors,[2] he has appeared in more than 130 films during his career of over 60 years.[3][4] He received Bog-wan Order of Cultural Merit in 2005 Culture Day.[5][6]
After his discharge, Ahn resumed his acting career. He won recognition in the 1980 film A Fine, Windy Day and was named Best New Actor at the Grand Bell Awards. This was followed by a Best Film Actor Award at the 1982 Baeksang Arts Awards for his role as a Buddhist monk in Im Kwon-taek's critically-acclaimed Mandala, still regarded by critics as one of the best domestic films of all time.[11][12] Ahn notably shaved his head for the role.[13] Over the years, he began diversifying his repertoire. He and Park Joong-hoon starred in the 1993 hit buddy cop-comedy Two Cops and won the "Daesang" (Grand Prize) at the Baeksang Arts Awards. Their on-screen chemistry as fellow detectives was highly popular with audiences and has been retrospectively dubbed the original on-screen "bromance" of Korean cinema.[14][15]
Ahn has played the President of South Korea twice, in the movies The Romantic President (2002) and Hanbando (2006). In 2003 Ahn starred in the semi-biographical film Silmido, which also starred several other notable names. It was the first domestic film to sell over 10 million tickets.[3] The phrase "Shoot me and go." uttered by his character became iconic and spawned many parodies and caricatures.[14][16] He and his Two Cops co-star Park Joong-hoon reunited for the 2006 film Radio Star, directed by acclaimed director Lee Joon-ik. Despite stiff competition from Tazza: The High Rollers, which was released on the same day, it was still a critical and commercial success, with Park and Ahn being nominated for or winning several awards.[17] That year Ahn also starred in the Hong Kong-China period co-production A Battle of Wits alongside top stars Andy Lau and Fan Bingbing.[18] During this period, he was known to be a vocal critic of the halving of screen quotas that allows foreign films to be shown in theaters on certain days, while domestic films are allotted another number of days.[19][20] At that time he was serving as a committee member in the Korean Film Actors Association's leadership and joined the union's two demonstrations in solidarity with other notable film directors, actors and actresses.[21][22][23]
Ahn surprised critics and commentators by appearing in the low-budget semi-biographical 2011 film Unbowed since it had been rejected by major distributors due to its controversial content. It was released to minimal fanfare but quickly became a sleeper hit due to its "David and Goliath" storyline which resonated with viewers.[24][25] Usually known for portraying warm or fatherly characters, he portrayed a mathematics professor furious at the injustice he suffered at the hands of corrupt judicial officials.[26] The critically-acclaimed film became an unexpected box office hit, earning Ahn awards at the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards.
On August 6, 2021, Ahn signed a contract with Artist Company.[27]
Recognition
A much respected figure in the film industry, Ahn is often dubbed "the nation's actor" (Korean: 국민배우) by the media, although he himself has stated that he prefers being known simply as another film actor.[28][3][29][18] He has been described as an actor "who boasts a truly diverse and vast filmography that changes with the times."[30] He has served as Vice President and President of the Korean Film Actors Association.[31]
On 23 June 2012, Ahn and Lee Byung-hun became some of the first Korean actors to leave their hand and foot prints on the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. He was recommended by the Korean Film Producers Association for his body of work.[33]
Ahn is close friends with singer-songwriter Cho Yong-pil. They were childhood friends and schoolmates at the now-defunct Kyungdong Middle School and remained friends even though they attended different high schools.[36][37]
Ahn married sculptor and university professor Oh So-yeong in 1985 at Myeongdong Cathedral.[38] They have two sons, one of whom married at the same venue the day after his parents' 33rd wedding anniversary.[2][39] A devout Catholic, Ahn was one of 30 Catholic celebrities who appeared in the 2014 music video for the digital single "Koinonia" to commemorate Pope Francis's visit to South Korea, the first time in 19 years that the pope visited Asia.[40][41][42]
Because of his ability to speak several foreign languages, UNICEF appointed Ahn as a representative, and his image is often seen in advertisements on planes travelling to Korea.[9][43]
^Lee Ho-young (August 6, 2021). "안성기 전속계약 "정우성·이정재 한솥밥" [공식입장]" [Ahn Sung-ki's exclusive contract "Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jeong-jae's one-pot rice" [Official position]]. iMBC (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
^Nam Jung-hyun (September 15, 2021). "부녀' 안성기·서현진…'카시오페아' 촬영 시작" [Ahn Sung-ki and Seo Hyun-jin of 'Daughter'... Filming of 'Cassiopeia' begins]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021 – via Naver.
^Jo Ji-young (April 27, 2022). "[공식] 안성기X서현진 주연 '카시오페아' 6월 1일 개봉 확정" [[Official] 'Cassiopeia' starring Ahn Sung-ki and Seo Hyun-jin confirmed for release on June 1st] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jo Ji-young (April 18, 2022). "[공식] '명량' 이후 8년 만의 신작 '한산: 용의 출현', 7월말 개봉 확정" [[Official] 'Hansan: Appearance of the Dragon', the first new work in 8 years since 'Myeongryang', to be released at the end of July] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022 – via Naver.
^* Lee Seung-mi (September 7, 2021). "[공식]"韓최초 사제 김대건 신부"…영화 '탄생', 윤시윤X안성기 주연 확정" [[Official] "Korea's First Priest, Father Kim Dae-geon"... Movie 'Birth' confirmed as Yoon Shi-yoon X Ahn Sung-ki]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021 – via Naver.
Kang Min-kyung (October 5, 2022). "[공식] "韓 최초 김대건 신부 극영화" 윤시윤→안성기 '탄생', 11월 30일 개봉 확정" [[Official] "Korea's first drama film by Kim Dae-geon" Yoon Si-yoon → Ahn Seong-ki 'Birth' confirmed for release on November 30th] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jo Yeon-kyung (December 23, 2021). "[단독] 안성기, 김성수 감독 '서울의 봄' 합류…큰 힘 보탠다" [[Exclusive] Ahn Sung-ki, Kim Seong-soo's 'Spring in Seoul' joins... give great strength]. JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via Naver.
^"역대 수상" [Past Winners]. 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards (in Korean). JTBC Plus. 2017. Archived from the original on 2014-11-09. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
^"청룡영화상 시상식" [Blue Dragon Film Awards award ceremony]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 1990-12-20. Archived from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
^Yu, Jae-hyeok (2001-12-13). "청룡영화상 남녀주연상 최민식.장진영" [Blue Dragon Film Awards, Best Actor Choi Min-sik, Best Actress Jang Jin-young]. The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
^Lee, Su-ung (2006-12-16). "'괴물' 청룡을 삼키다 최우수작품상 등 6관왕" [Six Awards Including Best Picture for 'The Host' at Blue Dragon Film Awards]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-03-08.
^"대종상 영화제: 1980년 제19회" [19th Grand Bell Awards, 1980]. Naver Movies (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
^ ab"대종상 영화제: 남우주연상" [Grand Bell Awards: Best Actor Award]. Naver Movies (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
^"대종상 영화제: 2006년 제43회" [43rd Grand Bell Awards, 2006]. Naver Movies (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2017-06-22. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
^"[제58회대종상]'혈액암 투병' 안성기, 공로상 "늙지 않을줄..건강 좋아지고 있어"" [[58th Grand Bell Awards] 'Battle against blood cancer' Ahn Seong-ki, Achievement Award "I don't think I'll age... my health is getting]. Herald POP (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
^"제43회 황금촬영상시상식 성료" [43rd Golden Filming Award Ceremony Completion]. 잡포스트(JOBPOST) (in Korean). 2023-10-21. Archived from the original on 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
^"역대영평상수상자" [Past Award Winners]. Korean Association of Film Critics (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
^Park, Mi-ae (October 24, 2022). "헤어질 결심', 영평상 최우수작품상 선정…공로상 안성기" ['Decision to break up' selected for Best Picture at the Youngpyeong Awards... Achievement Award Ahn Sung-ki] (in Korean). E-Daily. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park Soo-in (December 17, 2021). "국민배우 안성기, 대한민국 문화연예대상 대상 수상" [National Actor Ahn Seong-ki, Grand Prize at the Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021 – via Naver.
^"'국민배우'가 최근 전한 반가운 '소식'" [Good 'news' recently delivered by a 'national actor']. Daum (in Korean). May 26, 2023. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^"1984~2008 한국영화 배우 흥행 파워 50" [1984–2008 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies]. thescreen.co.kr. Archived from the original on 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-10-30.