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Acclaimed Director Ahn Pan-seok Dies at 64; Tributes Pour In
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Acclaimed Director Ahn Pan-seok Dies at 64; Tributes Pour In

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Acclaimed director Ahn Pan-seok has passed away at the age of 64 after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.
  • Colleagues, including broadcaster Baek Ji-yeon and actress Kim Hye-eun, have shared heartfelt tributes mourning his death and celebrating his career.
  • Ahn's final work, the drama 'Love Doctor,' was scheduled to air in October, and production staff have expressed their condolences.

Acclaimed director Ahn Pan-seok, known for his significant contributions to the Korean drama landscape, has died at the age of 64. He passed away on September 12th following a battle with a cerebral hemorrhage.

Broadcaster Baek Ji-yeon, who was a colleague of Ahn's from their time at MBC in 1987, shared a poignant tribute on Instagram. "Rest in peace," she wrote. "He was a wonderful director and a truly good friend."

Rest in peace. He was a wonderful director and a truly good friend.

— Baek Ji-yeonBroadcaster and colleague of Ahn Pan-seok, mourning his death on Instagram.

Actress Kim Hye-eun, who starred in Ahn's drama 'Secret Love Affair,' also expressed her grief. "I was honored to work with you on 'Secret Love Affair,' and I wanted to be a director you wouldn't be ashamed of," she posted. "It is heartbreaking that I cannot be with you for your last work. It pains me deeply that you are gone so soon. Director Ahn, who nurtured my heart, I will not forget your words. May you rest in peace in heaven."

I was honored to work with you on 'Secret Love Affair,' and I wanted to be a director you wouldn't be ashamed of. It is heartbreaking that I cannot be with you for your last work. It pains me deeply that you are gone so soon. Director Ahn, who nurtured my heart, I will not forget your words. May you rest in peace in heaven.

— Kim Hye-eunActress expressing her grief and respect for director Ahn Pan-seok on Instagram.

Ahn Pan-seok began his career as a producer at MBC in 1987 and debuted with the MBC Best Theater episode 'A Prelude to Love' in 1994. He left MBC in 2003. His notable works include "Air City" (2007), "A Wife's Qualification" (2012), "Secret Love Affair" (2014), "Heard It Through the Grapevine" (2015), "Something in the Rain" (2018), and "One Spring Night" (2019).

His final drama, "Love Doctor," for ENA, was slated for an October release. Filming for the series concluded in February. The production team for "Love Doctor" released a statement offering their "deepest condolences on his passing and sincerely pray for his soul."

We express our deepest condolences on his passing and sincerely pray for his soul.

— ENA 'Love Doctor' production staffStatement from the production team of Ahn Pan-seok's final drama.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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