Who was Jeon Sung-hwan? Veteran Busan Actor Dies at 85

Actor Jeon Sung-hwan, a legendary figure in the Busan theater industry, has passed away at the age of 85. The news was confirmed by the Korea Theater Association on August 1, 2025, saying that Jeon died on July 31.

The mortuary has been set up at On General Hospital Funeral Hall, Room 303, in Busan. The coffin will be observed on September 3 at 9 a.m., and the funeral will be held in the style of a Korean theater director.

Early Life and Theater Journey

Jeon Sung-hwan was born in 1940 in North Gando. He moved to Busan in 1951 during the January 4 Retreat. In 1963, he entered the theater world with his younger brother, the late actor Jeon Seung-hwan (who passed away in 2020). Together, they founded the famous Avant Stage theater company.

Career in Theater, Movies, and Dramas

Although Jeon was best known for his theater performances, he also made his mark in Korean films and dramas. His first movie appearance came in 2003 with “Cheongpung Myeongwon”. In 2005, he gained international recognition when he attended the Cannes Film Festival as the lead actor in the film “Hwal.”

He later acted in several hit dramas including:

• Taewang Sa Shin-gi

• Baker King Kim Tak-gu

• Deep Rooted Tree

His strong and charismatic acting style earned him great respect across the industry.

Contributions and Awards

Beyond acting, Jeon served as:

• Chairman of the Busan Branch of the Korean Theater Association

• Senior Director of the Busan City Theater Company

• Artistic Director of the Busan City Theater Company

• Producer at MBC Busan

His contributions were recognized through multiple honors, including the first Lee Hae-rang Theater Award (2001), Busan Culture Award, Korean Theater Arts Award, Nurwon Cultural Foundation Local Culture Award, and the Korea Arts Association Arts and Culture Award.

A Big Loss for Korean Theater

Jeon Sung-hwan is remembered as a pioneer who gave his life to promote Busan’s local theater culture. His passing is a great loss not only to the city of Busan but also to the entire Korean performing arts community.