According to the Korean Business Research Institute, the brand reputation analysis for movie actors was conducted using 195,441,812 pieces of big data collected from December 20, 2025 to January 20, 2026, examining consumer behavior and engagement related to 100 of Korea’s most-loved film actors. The results placed Ahn Sung Ki at No.1, followed by Koo Kyo Hwan in second place and Kim Woo Bin in third.
The full Top 30 ranking included Ahn Sung Ki, Koo Kyo Hwan, Kim Woo Bin, Moon Ga Young, Lee Je Hoon, Lee Seo Jin, Go Youn Jung, Hyun Bin, Byun Yo Han, Park Seo Joon, Park Shi Hoo, Kim Da Mi, Kim Hye Jun, Han Ji Min, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Young Ae, Lee Jung Jae, Jung Joon Ho, Yoo Ji Tae, Gong Yoo, Son Suk Ku, Yoon Kye Sang, Yoo Jae Myung, Song Ji Hyo, Ha Jung Woo, Son Ye Jin, Ryu Jun Yeol, Lee Joo Young, Kim Ji Young, and Jeon Do Yeon.
Ahn Sung Ki recorded outstanding scores across all major categories, including participation, media exposure, communication, and community engagement, achieving an overwhelmingly high brand reputation index. Koo Chang Hwan, director of the Korean Business Research Institute, explained that Ahn’s brand showed significant growth across multiple indicators: brand consumption rose by 63.00%, brand issues by 45.34%, brand communication by 10.27%, and brand diffusion by 26.52%.
Further analysis revealed that in link analysis, keywords such as “rest in peace,” “leading by example,” and “kind-hearted” ranked highly, while keyword analysis highlighted terms like “national actor,” “Oh So Young,” and “Park Joong Hoon.” Notably, Ahn Sung Ki recorded an exceptionally high positive sentiment rate of 97.87%.
Ahn Sung Ki passed away on January 5 at the age of 74. He collapsed at his home on December 30, 2025 after choking on food and was hospitalized in intensive care but never regained consciousness, passing away six days later. He had previously been diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019, was declared in remission the following year, but later experienced a relapse and continued treatment.
His funeral mass and memorial service were held on January 9 at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul. Actors Jung Woo Sung and Lee Jung Jae carried his portrait and decorations, while Sol Kyung Gu, Park Chul Min, Yoo Ji Tae, Park Hae Il, Jo Woo Jin, and Joo Ji Hoon served as pallbearers, escorting him on his final journey.
Debuting in 1957 with the film Twilight Train, Ahn Sung Ki went on to star in countless iconic works, including Whale Hunting (1984), Two Cops (1993), and Radio Star (2006), earning unwavering love from the public as a true national actor. Throughout his long career, he received more than 40 major acting awards, beginning with Best New Actor at the Grand Bell Awards for A Fine, Windy Day in 1980. In 2013, he was awarded the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, and this year, the government posthumously bestowed upon him the highest honor in popular culture, the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit.
Even during his illness, Ahn Sung Ki continued to appear at public events such as the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and the April 19 Democracy and Peace Awards, expressing his enduring passion for acting. His final works include Cassiopeia, Hansan: Rising Dragon, A Birth, and Noryang: Deadly Sea (special appearance), all filmed during his battle with cancer and released between 2022 and 2023.
Beyond his achievements on screen, Ahn Sung Ki was widely respected for his integrity and character, serving as a role model for generations of actors. He also devoted many years as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, spreading positive influence through consistent charitable work. These qualities help explain why, even after his passing, Ahn Sung Ki continues to be honored and remembered as Korea’s irreplaceable “national actor.”
Sources: Wikitree
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