‘Those Beautiful Years, Ahn Sung-ki’ pays a deeply personal and thoughtful tribute to his legacy by revisiting a defining period in his career and artistry. The six-film selection was curated around a list of representative works hand-picked by Ahn when BIFF first proposed the special program to him before his passing. The retrospective focuses on films from the 1980s and 1990s, a golden era defined by Ahn’s most prolific work and widespread acclaim. These titles highlight Ahn’s collaborations with visionary auteurs, capturing the finest moments of his filmography. Together, they reflect the historic milestones of Korean cinema forged through his captivating performances.

The program features six selections. In Lee Jang-ho’s A Fine, Windy Day (1980), Ahn stars as Deokbae, a deliveryman caught in the sweep of Korea’s rapid industrialization in the 1980s. Ahn brings a quiet strength to the role, portraying a working-class man who gets knocked down by the era’s turmoil, but refuses to give up.

In Bae Chang-ho’s Whale Hunting (1984), Ahn embodied the free-spirited bohemian Min-woo, bringing to life an inherently human character with his signature charming smile and playful sense of humor.

Park Kwang-su’s debut feature Chil-su and Man-su (1988) saw Ahn deliver an exceptional performance as Man-su, a billboard sign-painter scarred by Korea’s system of guilt by association who nevertheless confronts a cold, harsh reality with unyielding courage.

In Lee Myung-Se’s debut feature Gagman (1989), Ahn took on the role of a third-rate comedian deluded by his own cinematic genius. Bringing a profound sense of pathos to the character, Ahn created one of the most iconic tragicomic figures in Korean film history.

In Chung Jiyoung’s White Badge (1992), Ahn portrayed Han Ki-ju, a novelist haunted by post-traumatic stress after serving in the Vietnam War, capturing with great sensitivity the fragile and troubled inner life of a man shattered by the tragedies of history.

In Im Kwon-taek’s Festival (1996), Ahn played Lee Joon-seop, a writer returning to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, quietly capturing the profound sorrow, joy, and deep regret of life with nuance and restraint. The Special Program in Focus: ‘Those Beautiful Years, Ahn Sung-ki’ is co-hosted with the Korean Film Archive (KOFA).

Each of the six screenings features a special Guest Visit (GV). The sessions will be joined by Ahn’s longtime collaborators—directors Lee Jang-ho, Bae Chang-ho, Park Kwang-su, Lee Myung-Se, Chung Jiyoung, and actors Kim Bo-Yeon, Kim Soo-chul, and Bae Jong-ok—alongside special moderators including directors Jang Kun-jae, Kim Cho-hee, Park Ri-woong, Yoon Danbi, Oh Jung-min, film critic Jung Sung-il, and political scientist Kim Jiyoon, to share their memories and perspectives on Ahn Sung-ki.

 

As part of the Special Program in Focus, BIFF will also publish a special volume titled Between the Adventurous and the Exemplary Ahn Sung-ki, Actor of His Time. The publication features an essay on Ahn as an actor by filmmaker and film critic Jung Sung-il, along with reviews by film critics and journalists of Ahn’s representative works and films deserving renewed attention. It also features interviews with directors and actors who worked alongside him. The publication promises to serve as a valuable guide to exploring Ahn Sung-ki’s extraordinary acting career and legacy.

 

The 31st Busan International Film Festival will take place on October 6 (Tue) to October 15 (Thu) at Busan Cinema Center and throughout Busan.

■ AHN Sung-ki | Korea | Actor

Ahn Sung-ki began his acting career as a child actor, making his screen debut in The Twilight Train (1957) before appearing in notable early works including A Defiance of Teenager (1959). Ahn began a new chapter in his career as an adult actor with A Fine, Windy Day (1980), winning Best New Actor at the Daejong Film Awards, and further solidifying his status in Korean film history with works including A Dwarf Launches a Little Ball (1981), Whale Hunting (1984), and Chil-su and Man-su (1988). Moving seamlessly between socially conscious films—such as White Badge (1992) and The Tae Baek Mountains (1994)—and major commercial hits including Two Cops (1993) and Silmido (2003), Ahn cemented his status as the definitive icon of Korean cinema. His nuanced performances earned him numerous Best Actor awards, including the Daejong Film Awards for Iron Men (1982), the Blue Dragon Film Awards for North Korean Partisan in South Korea (1990) and Radio Star (2006), and the 2012 Baeksang Arts Awards for Unbowed. Beyond the screen, Ahn served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador from 1993 and maintained a deep, lifelong bond with BIFF as a member of the festival committee and as deputy festival director. Following his passing on January 5, 2026, he was awarded the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the nation's highest cultural honor.

[‘Those Beautiful Years, Ahn Sung-ki’ - Screening List]

* Ordered by Production Year

A Fine, Windy Day (1980) – LEE Jang-ho

Three young working-class friends in Seoul follow their dreams while drifting between a barbershop, a hotel, and a restaurant. It is a key film that marked a new beginning for 1980s Korean cinema.

 

Whale Hunting (1984) – BAE Chang-ho

When runaway college student Byung-tae meets Min-woo on the street, the two take to the road to help Chun-ja find her hometown. This definitive 1980s youth film features an iconic original soundtrack by Kim Soo-chul.

 

Chil-su and Man-su (1988) – PARK Kwang-su

Two billboard painters draw an unexpected crowd as they climb to the top of a high-rise billboard. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Park Kwang-su.

 

Gagman (1989) – LEE Myung-Se

Lee Jong-sae, a third-rate comedian convinced he is a genius filmmaker, dives into a perilous plot to make his masterwork. This legendary Korean cult classic seamlessly collapses the boundary between movie and reality.

 

White Badge (1992) – CHUNG Jiyoung

Han Ki-ju, a novelist suffering from his time in the Vietnam War is visited by a former wartime comrade Byun Jin-soo, bringing back long-buried memories of the battlefield. The film overlaps the trauma of war with the social turbulence of 1980s Korea.

 

Festival (1996) – IM Kwon-taek

Novelist Lee Joon-seop returns to his hometown upon receiving news of his mother’s passing. Over the days of the funeral, the space of mourning slowly transforms into a celebration of life.