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Shin Sung-Hoon, acclaimed for Jjamja-myeon, Thank You, died at 40 with no family at his funeral.
Shin Sung-Hoon is no more.
South Korea’s film industry is grappling with the sudden loss of director Shin Sung-Hoon, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 40. Shin’s untimely death, made public only months later, has left colleagues and fans in mourning, especially after reports revealed that his funeral was held without any family or relatives present.
According to an OSEN report, Shin died in May. As no relatives were identified, his funeral was carried out as a no-relative burial. Police confirmed that no suicide note was found, and there were no indications of chronic illness, deepening the shock of his sudden death. A friend, unable to reach him, discovered him at his home and alerted authorities.
Shin’s life was marked by personal struggle from an early age. Born in an orphanage, he was later adopted, but his adoptive mother fell into gambling addiction, accumulating debts exceeding 100 million Korean won. Shin worked tirelessly to repay the entire amount, reportedly covering 160 million won in total, and eventually filed for legal termination of the adoption. Despite these challenges, he publicly spoke about his experiences with empathy rather than bitterness.
In a 2022 broadcast, Shin opened up about his background and the pressures of the film industry. Reflecting on the financial and emotional grind, he said, “If you don’t keep making commercial films, it’s hard to continue as a director. Many short-film and independent directors have it worse than I do—they just don’t say it out loud. Until you make your commercial debut, every day is like a war. If we can’t keep producing films, we can’t make a living.” At times, he also took on part-time work loading and unloading parcels to make ends meet. “After a day of that, I realised how hard it is. My whole body hurt like it was breaking down… Coming home, I wondered, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t keep walking the director’s path.’”
Despite the hardships, Shin maintained a deep love for filmmaking. He began his entertainment career as a singer in 2002, later appearing in small film roles before moving behind the camera. His 2022 film Jajangmyeon Thank You won Best Director and Best Picture at the 7th Hollywood Bluebird Film Festival and reportedly collected 81 festival awards. Subsequent works, including Underage (2024) and God’s Choice (2025), received recognition at international festivals. At the time of his passing, he was preparing Underage 2, slated for release later in 2025.
Shin’s dedication extended beyond cinema. OSEN reported that he often posted pictures on social media with captions such as “Mom” or “Family,” though these were not his biological relatives but older acquaintances he called family. A source from the entertainment industry told OSEN, “I heard the news too late. The fact that it was a no-relative funeral weighs heavily on my heart.”
May his soul rest in peace!
October 27, 2025, 08:27 IST
