On August 12, 2026 acclaimed South Korean director Ahn Pan Suk passed away in Korea.

Since last year, Ahn Pan Suk had been battling lung cancer. Last month, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and today he sadly succumbed to his illness.

Director Ahn was born in 1961 and joined MBC in 1987. He was 64 years old at the time of his death.

He belongs to the generation of filmmakers who laid the foundations of the Korean Wave, thanks to which half the world now watches Korean dramas and admires the country's cinematic artistry.

Among Ahn Pan Suk's most celebrated works are the truly remarkable dramas «Secret Love Affair» (starring Yoo Ah In and Kim Hee Ae), «Something in the Rain» (starring ung Hae In  and Son Ye Jin ), and «The Art of Negotiation» (starring Lee Je Hoon, Kim Dae Myung, and Sung Dong Il).

His directorial signature was always marked by a deep and multi-layered portrayal of his characters' inner worlds, while he consistently steered clear of ostentatious grandiloquence and unwarranted on-screen theatrics.

The director's final series was the drama «Love Doctor», featuring Chu Yeong Woo and Kim So Hyun. According to press reports, filming has been completed and post-production has also been finished. The drama is scheduled to premiere in October 2026.

The funeral service will be held at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital. The burial will take place in a private ceremony among family members, who wish to say their quiet goodbyes to the deceased.