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Renowned veteran actor Nam Goong Won (born Hong Gyeong Il), often called Korea's Gregory Peck, has passed away at the age of 89.
Asan Medical Center reported that Nam Goong Won passed away around 4 p.m. on February 5. It is known that he had been battling lung cancer for several years.
Born in 1934 in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, the late actor attended Hanyang University, majoring in Chemical Engineering. It is said that he gained a reputation for his looks from his university days due to his distinct Western facial features.
Nam Goong Won entered the film industry to earn money for his mother's cancer treatment. After making his debut with the 1958 film When the Night Comes Again he appeared in a total of 345 productions.
Nam Goong Won also won several awards, such as Best Actor at the 12th Grand Bell Awards and Favorite Film Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards, among others. He was also awarded the Order of Cultural Merit (Silver Crown) in 2016 for his contributions to the Korean film industry.
The deceased was the father of former National Assembly member Hong Jeong Wook.
Many figures in the Korean film industry are sending their condolences over the passing of a figure who dominated an era of Korean cinema. Late actor Nam Goong Won's funeral will be held on February 8, and the burial and burial site is Gwangneung Memorial Park in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do.
