Byun Hee-bong Passed a Year Ago Today

It has been a year since the late actor Byun Hee-bong passed away.

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Wednesday marks the first anniversary of Byun Hee-bong's death. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was cured after battling the disease, but he died on September 18th last year at the age of 81.

Born in 1942, Byun Hee-bong debuted as a voice actor for MBC's open recruitment in 1965. Since then, he has expanded his acting career to include numerous dramas throughout his lifetime.

Byun Hee-bong also gained attention as a persona of master director Bong Joon-ho, solidifying his status as a national actor. He has continued his special relationship with Bong Joon-ho by appearing in films such as "Barking Dogs Never Bite" (2000), his debut feature film, "Memories of Murder" (2003), "The Host" (2006), and "Okja" (2017).

In particular, Byun Hee-bong was awarded the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2020 in recognition of his work in various fields of popular culture.