Actress Kim Min-che has paid tribute to the late Kim Sae-ron, who has passed away.
On the 16th, Kim Min-che wrote on her SNS, “I was so happy to meet you as a daughter in the movie ‘Neighborhood People’,” and added, “I hope you rest peacefully.” She also expressed, “May the deceased rest in peace.”
Kim Min-che played the role of Kim Sae-ron's (as Kang Yu-jin) mother in the movie ‘Neighborhood People’, which was released in November 2018.
She shared memories with Kim Sae-ron by posting scenes from the film.
The Seoul Seongdong Police Station reported that they received a call at 4:54 PM on the 16th regarding Kim Sae-ron being found dead at her home, and confirmed her death upon arrival. The caller was identified as an acquaintance who had an appointment to meet Kim Sae-ron.
The police transported Kim Sae-ron to the hospital, but she was pronounced dead, and it was reported that she was already in cardiac arrest at the time of discovery.
A police official stated, “No signs of external intrusion or criminal suspicion were found, but we are continuing to investigate the circumstances of her death.”
Kim Sae-ron debuted as a model in the magazine ‘Anfang’ in 2001 and began her acting career with the film ‘Traveler’ in 2009, gaining public recognition through the movie ‘The Man from Nowhere’ in 2010. She continued to appear in various works such as ‘Neighbor’, ‘Manhole’, ‘Dohee-ya’, ‘Snowy Road’, and ‘Neighborhood People’.
While actively pursuing acting and entertainment, Kim Sae-ron came under scrutiny in 2022 due to a drunk driving incident. At that time, she drove her car near Hakdong Intersection in Gangnam, Seoul, after drinking, crashing into guardrails and transformers on the roadside. She tested positive on the police breathalyzer but refused to undergo a blood alcohol concentration test by the police and had her blood drawn at a nearby hospital.
According to the National Forensic Service's blood analysis, Kim Sae-ron's blood alcohol concentration at the time of the accident was about 0.2%, significantly exceeding the license suspension threshold of 0.08% and indicating she was heavily intoxicated.
Ultimately, Kim Sae-ron was referred to the prosecution and was fined 20 million won through a trial in May 2023. As a result, she suspended her activities in the entertainment industry, including the drama she was appearing in. At that time, her agency, Golden Medalist, stated that Kim Sae-ron was deeply reflecting on her clear mistakes.
Afterward, Kim Sae-ron aimed for a return to acting after two years through the play ‘Dongchimi’, but faced difficulties due to strong negative public opinion. Eventually, she withdrew from the play due to health reasons.
During her hiatus, Kim Sae-ron shared updates about working part-time at a café, but even this was viewed negatively by the public. Additionally, she sparked self-dating rumors last March when she posted a photo with actor Kim Soo-hyun on her SNS.
Kim Sae-ron completed filming for the movie ‘Guitar Man’ last November and was preparing for her return to activities with that film.
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