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By Kang Aa-young
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| The late actor Shin Seong-il |
In early October, a month before he died of lung cancer on Nov. 4, he couldn't walk without painkillers because cancer cells had spread to his entire body.
Even while battling cancer, he was determined to make the trip to of Busan for Asia's biggest film festival, the Busan International Film Festival, to keep his promise to director Lee Jang-ho. Lee is to shoot a film about small but certain happiness next year.
Shin also wanted to prove that he was still alive amid rampant rumors that he'd died.
He was accompanied by two nurses.
MBC's "Human documentary: People Are Good," which aired last week, featured Shin's over five decades long journey through cinema.
The program showed never-seen-before footage of the late actor Shin fighting cancer.
The veteran actor starred in more than 500 productions, including most recently, 2013's "Door to the Night." He was often dubbed "a living witness of Korean film history."
"He was a movie star to the last minute he died," his second daughter Kang Su-hwa said in the documentary.
Shin passed before he could attend the eighth Shin Young Kyun Arts and Culture Foundation Artists of the Year Awards, where he was supposed to receive a lifetime achievement award.
"He promised me he'd come for the event and said he would make it under any circumstances," said veteran actor Shin Young-kyun, 90, who established the Shin Young Kyun Arts and Cultural Foundation, said.
The late actor had an unwavering passion for cinema.
In the book "Korean Cinema Retrospective: The Legendary Star, Shin Seong-il," published by the Busan International Film Festival to honor Shin, star director Park Chan-wook said without understanding Shin, it is hard grasp Korea's film history as well as the country's modern culture.
At the Busan International Film Festival last year, Shin recalled his experiences of the industry back in 1967 when he appeared in several films, explaining that those in show business were not always shown respect.
Back in the 1960s, when Shin was dominating the film industry, actors were often called "ttanttara," a derogatory term referring people working in entertainment.
"I'm not a ttanttara," he said. Adding he couldn't stand the term because it was disrespectful.
Those who knew Shin then said he was a pioneer in the film industry.
His professionalism and work ethic were relatively unknown to the public, partly because of his scandalous life.
In a biography released in 2011, Shin admitted for the first time his love affair and deceased ex-lover, newscaster and actress Kim Young-ae, and her pregnancy.
He said that Kim was "the greatest love of his life."
The older generation, who witnessed his rise, still remembered his lifelong dedication to movie industry.
When a local news media outlet dubbed him a legend, saying "He was Song Jung-ki, Kang Dong won and Park Bo-geom," many said it was an "exaggeration."
However, culture critic Ha Jae-geun said he had been underappreciated.
"He was undeniably a legend in the history of film." Since he has been remembered most for his private life and scandal, he was underappreciated, Ha said.
"Back then there was no TV, or internet and social media," Ha added, saying the only media outlet, the screen, was dominated by Shin.
"Younger generations especially, do not know much about how great he was," he added.
The documentary, aired Monday, resulted in the highest ratings for MBC as many remembering his heyday decided to tune in. Female viewers in their 60s or over were the largest demographic of viewers.
The episode was watched by 6.4 percent of viewers nationwide and 7.3 percent in the capital area; according to data by media ratings company TNMS. While viewers in their 20s recorded 1.3% and 30s, 1.9, female viewers over 60 stood at 7.3%.
