Actor couple Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung expressed their condolences in different but equally sincere ways as they paid their final respects to the late legendary actor Ahn Sung Ki.
The late Ahn Sung Ki passed away on January 5 at the age of 74. His funeral was held as a Film Industry Funeral, jointly organized by the Shin Young Kyun Arts and Culture Foundation and the Korean Film Actors Association. The five-day funeral service will conclude with a burial ceremony scheduled for January 9 at 6 a.m., with his final resting place in Yangpyeong’s Byeolgeurida Cemetery.
Veteran actor Shin Young Kyun served as honorary chairman of the funeral committee, while industry leaders including Lee Gap Sung, director Bae Chang Ho, Shin Eon Sik, and Yang Yun Ho took on key organizing roles underscoring Ahn Sung Ki’s towering legacy in Korean cinema.
Many prominent actors attended the funeral to honor the late icon. Lee Byung Hun, along with Lee Jung Jae, Jung Woo Sung, and Park Cheol Min, participated as pallbearers, personally escorting Ahn Sung Ki on his final journey.
Lee Byung Hun shared a particularly meaningful bond with the late actor. The two worked together on the animated film My Beautiful Girl, Mari in 2002 and later made history in 2012 as the first Asian actors to take part in a handprinting ceremony at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre an event that symbolized Korean cinema’s global rise.
Lee Min Jung also expressed her grief in a subtle but powerful manner. On January 6, she attended the 2026 First Brand Awards at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, where she received an award in the celebrity YouTuber category.
When asked to pose with a heart gesture on stage, Lee Min Jung gently declined, saying, “Not today…” a moment widely interpreted as her way of honoring Ahn Sung Ki’s passing. The ceremony itself proceeded in a subdued and respectful atmosphere.
After completing her schedule, Lee Min Jung went directly to the funeral hall to pay her respects.
Later that day, Lee Min Jung shared a heartfelt message on her personal social media account: “I had just returned from paying my respects when this photo suddenly appeared. I was startled. Such a warm and wonderful teacher. I will always remember you.”
The accompanying photo showed her smiling brightly beside Ahn Sung Ki during his lifetime. The image, which captured the actor after his battle with blood cancer, added to the emotional weight of her tribute.
Though expressed in different ways one carrying the coffin, the other refusing celebratory gestures Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung’s actions reflected a shared reverence for Ahn Sung Ki. Their gestures resonated deeply with the public, symbolizing the dignity, gratitude, and respect owed to one of Korean cinema’s most beloved figures.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스