Actress Kim Sae-ron has shocked the entertainment industry with her sudden passing. Recognized for her solid acting skills since her childhood, she was beloved as the 'nation's child actor' and left behind her final work, "Guitar Man," while preparing for a comeback.
The funeral is at Asan Medical Center in Seoul... the burial will be on the 19th
Kim Sae-ron's funeral has been arranged at the Asan Medical Center funeral hall in Seoul. Mourning visits will begin on the 17th, and the burial is scheduled to take place at 6:20 AM on the 19th. Her father is in charge of the funeral arrangements, and the family is deeply saddened by the sudden news of Kim Sae-ron, the eldest daughter among three siblings.
Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, at 4:54 PM on the 16th. The police stated that there were no signs of external intrusion and no evidence of criminal activity was found. It has been confirmed that she did not leave a suicide note.
Her final work "Guitar Man"... she was preparing for a comeback
The last project Kim Sae-ron filmed was the musical movie "Guitar Man." Filming was completed in November last year, and the movie is currently in the editing process, set to be released in May.
A close associate of the deceased stated, "We had already completed filming 'Guitar Man' in early November last year and were discussing plans to resume activities afterward. It is devastating that this happened just before the release."
Although Kim Sae-ron was not at the stage of discussing new projects, she was reportedly carefully considering her return to the entertainment industry. However, she ultimately did not get to see the release of her final work.
The nation's child actor from "The Man from Nowhere" leaves behind her final work
Kim Sae-ron began her acting career by appearing in the Korean-French co-production film "The Traveler," produced by director Lee Chang-dong, after passing a competitive selection process with odds of 1,000 to 1 in 2009. Despite being only 9 years old at the time, she garnered attention for her delicate inner acting.
In 2010, she solidified her status as the 'nation's child actor' by co-starring with Won Bin in "The Man from Nowhere," which attracted 6.17 million viewers. The scene in the film where Won Bin hugs Kim Sae-ron and says, "You can stand on your own," is still frequently mentioned.
Additionally, she was invited to the Cannes Film Festival with "The Traveler," making her the youngest actor to walk the Cannes red carpet, and was invited again with "Dohee-ya," accumulating two experiences at the Cannes Film Festival before turning 15.
"Someone has to play dark roles"... her love for acting
In a past interview, Kim Sae-ron expressed her thoughts on the dark characters she often portrayed, saying, "Not every child is bright. There are various people in the world, and we need to see those kinds of people. Someone has to take on those roles. I find that kind of acting fun."
She continued, "I'm not insisting on only playing dark roles, but as I looked for roles I hadn't experienced, it turned out that way. However, I don't dislike it," revealing her affection for acting.
However, she ultimately could not become an actress who would portray middle-aged characters.
2022 drunk driving controversy... ultimately passing away just before her comeback
In May 2022, Kim Sae-ron was involved in a controversy after driving under the influence with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.2%, crashing into a tree and a transformer. She faced further criticism for not taking action after the accident, leading to a rapid decline in her entertainment activities.
After the controversy, Kim Sae-ron issued an official apology and entered a period of self-reflection, terminating her contract with her agency. She did not engage in any official activities afterward but was preparing for a comeback through the filming of "Guitar Man," which became her final work.
However, she ultimately passed away without being able to restart her acting career.
Many fans are unable to hide their shock at the sudden news of Kim Sae-ron's death.
Fans expressed their sorrow, saying, "She was still a young and talented actress, it's so tragic," "I remember Somi from 'The Man from Nowhere'," and "She was preparing for a comeback, but she left too soon."
Meanwhile, Kim Sae-ron's funeral has been arranged at the Asan Medical Center funeral hall, with the burial taking place at 6:20 AM on the 19th.
Kim Seung-hye, MK Sports Reporter
