Acclaimed South Korean drama director Ahn Pan-seok has passed away at the age of 64, capping off a career that spanned close to four decades. Known for helming several celebrated dramas such as 'Behind the White Towerâ, âSecret Affairâ, âSomething in the Rainâ and âSpring Nightâ, his death was announced today, August 12, by the production team behind ENA's upcoming drama âLove Doctorâ.

Ahn Pan-seok's cause of death revealed

According to Dispatch Dipe, Ahn Pan-seok had been battling lung cancer since last year and was undergoing treatment for the disease. Last month, his health took a turn for the worse when he suffered a brain hemorrhage and collapsed, he was unable to recover before passing away at the age of 64. The production team behind âLove Doctorâ confirmed his death, adding that the funeral would be conducted privately so his grieving family could say their goodbyes without media intrusion.

Ahn Pan-seok's journey as a director

Ahn Pan-seok, born in 1961, stepped into broadcasting when he joined MBC as a producer in 1987. Over the course of nearly four decades as a drama director, he became known for his restrained storytelling style and deep attention to human emotion. He gained significant acclaim for 2007's âBehind the White Towerâ, a drama fondly remembered for its fresh take on the medical genre, and later helmed âSecret Affairâ in 2014, followed by âSomething in the Rainâ and âSpring Nightâ, both of which drew praise for their mature and emotionally rich narratives.

Ahn Pan-seok's final project, âLove Doctorâ

His final work as a director is ENA's forthcoming drama âLove Doctorâ, starring Choo Young-woo and Kim So-hyun, which traces the story of a man and woman who meet while working in a robot laboratory and gradually fall for each other. With filming and post-production already complete, the drama remains on track to premiere in October as planned, despite the director's passing, marking the last chapter in the career of a filmmaker who left a lasting legacy on Korean television.