On February 16, the Asian entertainment industry was shocked by the sudden passing of South Korean actress Kim Sae Ron. The 25-year-old star was confirmed to have passed away at her home in Seoul, South Korea, on the afternoon of February 16.
According to Nate, citing the Seongdong District Police in South Korea, Kim Sae Ron was found unconscious and in cardiac arrest when police arrived at the scene. She was immediately rushed to the hospital but was declared beyond saving upon arrival.
The sudden death of Kim Sae Ron shook the Asian entertainment world (Photo: Naver).
“There were no signs of criminal activity or forced entry at the scene, but we are still investigating all possible circumstances surrounding her death,” the police stated.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of suicide and will continue to intensify their investigation into the cause of the young actress’s death.
On Naver (South Korea’s largest online portal), news of Kim Sae Ron’s sudden passing ranked second in the most-searched terms. Meanwhile, on Weibo (China), the keyword “Kim Sae Ron” topped the list of trending searches for the day.
Across forums and social media platforms, fans expressed shock at the news, sending condolences to her family.
On her personal Instagram account, which had 3.6 million followers, Kim Sae Ron’s last post was a birthday wish for a deceased friend before her own passing.
Her final photo showed her posing with light makeup. Fans flooded the comments section with condolences for her family and messages of grief for the young star.
A close acquaintance revealed that Kim Sae Ron had recently considered returning to acting. She even changed her name, hoping for a fresh start in 2025.
Kim Sae Ron smiling on the set of a film shot in November 2024 (Photo: Naver).
The source also mentioned that the actress was preparing to open a café with a friend and planning her return to the entertainment industry. “When I heard she passed, my friends and I were all in deep shock,” the person told Edaily.
According to South Korean media, her latest project was Guitar Man. Filming wrapped up in November 2024, and the movie is currently in post-production without an official release date.
Following her death, behind-the-scenes images from the project were shared widely on forums and social media.
Lee Sun Jeong, CEO of Sungwon Pharmaceuticals, who worked with Kim Sae Ron on Guitar Man, expressed deep regret over her sudden passing.
He said, “During filming, Kim Sae Ron was cheerful and always smiling. But when alone, she seemed sad and appeared to be struggling. That really made me reflect.”
Kim Sae Ron (born in 2000) was once a promising star in South Korean cinema. She gained recognition for her role in The Mister, starring alongside Won Bin.
Since then, she appeared in numerous projects such as Neighbor, The Eyes, Glamorous Temptation, Witch’s Guard, and The Good Shaman.
To South Korean media, Kim Sae Ron was a talented child star, hailed as a genius actress.
However, in 2022, after causing a serious drunk-driving accident, Kim Sae Ron faced a public backlash, was blacklisted by major broadcasters, and became the subject of widespread boycotts.
Kim Sae Ron had a bright future ahead before the 2022 scandal led to her being banned and unemployed (Photo: Instagram).
In 2023, during her trial, prosecutors revealed that Kim Sae Ron had a high blood alcohol level at the time of the accident and attempted to flee the scene. Her actions drew heavy criticism.
In court, the actress, born in 2000, expressed remorse and admitted fault. She announced she had quit drinking after the scandal and sought forgiveness.
“This will never happen again. I am truly sorry. I deeply regret my actions and have reflected on them a lot. I stopped drinking and sold my car. I am the breadwinner for my family, and it’s now very hard to make ends meet,” she said.
Considering her acknowledgment of wrongdoing and efforts to compensate for damages, prosecutors recommended a fine of 20 million won (approximately $15,000). After the trial concluded, Kim Sae Ron left the courthouse surrounded by reporters. She avoided the press, bowing her head and quickly departing.
From 2023 onward, Kim Sae Ron took on manual labor jobs—working in restaurants, cafés, and other odd jobs—to support herself and repay contracts affected by the drunk-driving scandal.
Kim Sae Ron appeared humbled and worn down during her 2023 trial (Photo: Osen).
Two years ago, the young actress admitted that life had been extremely difficult following the drunk-driving incident. Starting May 2022, Kim Sae Ron temporarily halted her acting career, withdrew from entertainment events, and her agency terminated her contract.
The scandal pushed her career into a dead end and left her financially strained. All earnings from over 15 years in the entertainment industry were used to compensate businesses and brands affected by the incident.
According to some of her friends, Kim Sae Ron showed signs of psychological instability due to life pressures and early fame. Additionally, her lonely lifestyle left her feeling lost and trapped multiple times.
