Actress Kim Sae-ron Passes Away at 25; A Wave of Mourning

The shocking news of the death of actress Kim Sae-ron, a former child actress, at her home on the afternoon of February 16th has sent waves of shock through the nation. She was 25 years old.

According to the police, Kim was found dead at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, around 5 PM that day. Her friend discovered her and reported it to the police. The police are currently investigating the exact circumstances of her death. The reporter was Kim's friend, who reportedly found her deceased after visiting her home as usual.

A source close to Kim Sae-ron said, "Kim Sae-ron lived alone in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, while her family lived in Gyeonggi-do. I understand that her younger sister lived between her older sister's house and their family home."

They also added, "Kim Sae-ron had been struggling mentally and psychologically and had been receiving treatment. We recently heard that she was preparing to open a cafe, and we are heartbroken by this sudden news." expressing their grief.

Born in 2000, Kim Sae-ron debuted as a magazine model in 2001 and began her career as a child actress in 2009 with the film "Travelers." She subsequently appeared in various works, including films such as "A Man Who Was Superman," "Neighbor," "The Throne," and "Snow Path," and dramas such as "The Queen's Classroom," "The Witch's Love," and "The Excellent Witch Ga Doo-shim," gaining the love of the public.

However, in May 2022, she caused a stir when she was involved in a drunk driving accident, halting her activities and entering a period of self-reflection. At the time, Kim was driving under the influence of alcohol and collided with a street tree and transformer, causing a significant incident.

After her period of self-reflection, she participated in the filming of the movie "Guitar Man" last year, preparing for her return to acting. The film "Guitar Man" has finished filming and is scheduled for release this year, making her passing all the more heartbreaking.

Many fans and colleagues are expressing their condolences over the sudden news.

Professor Na Jong-ho, a psychiatrist at Yale University, expressed his sorrow over the sudden death of actress Kim Sae-ron, pointing out problems within our society.

Professor Na posted on his SNS on the 17th, stating, "Drunk driving is clearly a serious offense, and if the punishment is insufficient, it is a problem with the legal system." He went on to criticize, "However, a society that does not give people a second chance and socially ostracizes them just because they made a mistake is not a healthy society."

He continued, "The way our society discards those who make mistakes or fall behind, as if nothing happened, is similar to a giant 'Squid Game,'" casting a sharp eye on the situation.

Professor Na particularly lamented, "I strongly feel that the death of actress Kim Sae-ron was a death driven to the brink." He recalled, "I recently saw an article saying that Ms. Kim was working a part-time job because of financial difficulties, and I also witnessed the cafe where she worked being subjected to malicious comments."

He then emphasized, "How many lives must be lost before we stop inflicting destructive shame without giving them a chance to breathe?" He added, "Now is the time for social dialogue and reflection." He offered his condolences, saying, "My heart aches so much."

1. Overview of Actress Kim Sae-ron :

• A South Korean actress. A former child actress, she was recognized domestically and internationally for her outstanding acting skills at a young age. She debuted as a magazine model in 2001 and began her acting career in earnest in 2009 with the film "Travelers." She received recognition for her acting skills through awards at domestic and international film festivals and appeared in various works, ranging from dramas to films. Sadly, she passed away on February 16, 2025.

2. Life and Debut :

• Born in Seoul on July 31, 2000.
• Debuted in the entertainment industry in 2001 as the cover model for the magazine 'Angpang'.
• In 2009, she was cast in the film "Travelers," produced by director Lee Chang-dong, after beating 1000:1 odds, marking her first step as an actress.
• In 2010, she appeared in the film "A Man Who Was Superman," which attracted 6.28 million viewers, gaining widespread popularity. Through "A Man Who Was Superman," she emerged as a rising star in Chungmuro (Korean film industry).
• With the film "Travelers," she was invited to the Cannes Film Festival's official section, walking the red carpet and setting a record as the youngest South Korean actress to attend Cannes.
• She was invited to the Cannes Film Festival again with the film "The Throne," setting a record of walking the Cannes red carpet twice before turning 15.
• From 2015 to 2017, she broadened her activities by working as an MC for 'Show! Music Core'.
• In 2022, a drunk driving accident disrupted her career, and she did not renew her contract with her agency after its expiration.
• She passed away in February 2025, ending her short life.

3. Acting Career and Characteristics of Roles :

• Before her acting career, she gained experience through various activities such as appearing on television and working as an infant model.
• In 2009, she drew public attention with her sensitive portrayal of an abandoned child in the film "Travelers."
• In 2012, she showcased her outstanding acting skills by playing a dual role in the film "Neighbor." In the film "Barbie," she gave a stellar performance as an innocent eldest daughter.
• In 2013, she took on a bright character in the drama "The Queen's Classroom" as a perfect daughter.
• In 2014, she played the childhood role of Kim Geum-hwa in the film "Mansion," and attempted an acting transformation by taking on the role of a hearing-impaired person in the film "Manhole."
• In 2015, she showed off a lively performance as an angel in the drama "High School Love On," and delivered a deep performance as a comfort woman victim in the drama "Snow Path."
• In 2016, she attempted a transition to adult acting by taking on her first historical drama role in "The Witch's Love."
• In 2019, she showed a different side by playing a bright character in the web drama "Love Playlist Season 4."
• Looking at the trend of her works, she appeared in numerous films not suitable for viewers under 18 years old, especially taking on roles with dark settings such as kidnapping, confinement, and violence. However, she stated that she would participate if she liked the script.

4. Values and Beliefs:

• As an actress, she had clear and profound beliefs and values.
• She had a deep affection for her profession and wanted to move people through her acting.
• When choosing roles, she prioritized the overall mood and aftertaste. While she listened to the advice of her agency and parents, she made the final decision herself.
• She considered watching her own films in theaters important, showing respect for cinema.
• She expressed her fondness for darker roles, believing that there are various kinds of people in the world and that acting them out is meaningful.

5. Main Filmography:

• Films: Travelers, A Man Who Was Superman, I'm Your Dad, Barbie, Neighbor, Observation Lesson, Manhole, The Throne, Mansion, The Actor, The Twins, Snow Path, The Villagers, We Are Daily, Guitar Man.
• Dramas: Can You Hear My Heart, Paradise Ranch, Fashion King, Romance Needs a 2012, What's Mom's Job, Missing You, The Queen's Classroom, High School Love On, Glamorous Temptation, To Be Continued, Snow Path, The Witch's Love, Leverage, Love Playlist Season 4, Nobody Knows, The Excellent Witch Ga Doo-shim, KBS Drama Special - Her, Kiss Sixth Sense, Dogs Hunting.
• Music Videos: SHINee, 5URPRISE, Block B, Yoon Jong-shin.

6. Other Activities:

• Participation in various events (professional baseball opening ceremony pitching, fan signing events, music festival hosting, etc.).
• Album release (Neighbor OST).
• Ambassador activities (Seoul International Youth Film Festival, love-your-neighbor campaign, school violence prevention ambassador, etc.).

7. Awards and Recognitions:

• Numerous awards including the Buil Film Awards, the Korean Film Awards, the Max Movie Best Film Awards, the Blue Dragon Film Awards, and the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.

8. Controversies and Incidents:

• Caused social controversy due to a drunk driving accident in 2022.

9. Trivia:

• She named actress Lee Young-ae as her role model.
• All members of her family have acting experience.
• She was also known for her excellent singing and dancing skills.
• She was known for her calm and cautious personality.
• She expressed a keen interest in academics in addition to acting.
• She expressed a desire to try action acting.
• She has a past connection with Won Bin from their collaboration in the film "A Man Who Was Superman."
• She had many connections in the entertainment industry. (Lee Su-hyun, Yeri, SinB, Chanhee, Haeryung, Woohee, Jeon Somi, Heechul, etc.)
• She enjoyed interacting with fans through SNS.
• She was known to enjoy fishing.
• She frequently wore leather clothing.
• She enjoyed spending time alone making candles, watching movies, or reading webtoons.
• The fact that she was a victim of school violence was later revealed, causing heartache.
• There are opinions that she resembled NewJeans' Haerin.