Fans and the entertainment industry are continuing to mourn the late actor Kim Sae-ron.
The Seoul Seongdong Police Station reported that they received a call at 4:54 PM on the 16th, stating that Kim Sae-ron had passed away at her home. She was 25 years old.
The caller was confirmed to be 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 when found.
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.”
In the wake of Kim Sae-ron's sudden passing, fellow entertainers also shared their memories and condolences. Actor Kim Min-che, who worked with her in the film ‘Neighborhood People’ released in November 2018, wrote on social media, “I was so happy to meet you as a daughter in the movie ‘Neighborhood People.’ May you rest in peace there.” He also expressed, “I pray for the repose of the deceased.”
Actress Kim Ok-bin also paid tribute with a photo of chrysanthemums, stating, “I pray for the repose of the deceased.”
Kim Sae-ron's former agency, Gold Medalist, also expressed their condolences, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate news of Kim Sae-ron. We pray for the repose of the deceased.”
Fans and the public are expressing their sorrow on Kim Sae-ron's social media. Her last post was a selfie uploaded on the 18th of last month, and comments on that post are restricted. Fans are showing their support for Kim Sae-ron's last moments with heart emojis instead of likes.
Kim Sae-ron's funeral was set to be held at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, but it has not been confirmed.
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 film ‘Uncle’ in 2010. She continued to appear in various works such as ‘Neighbor,’ ‘Manhole,’ ‘Dohee-ya,’ ‘Snowy Road,’ and ‘Neighborhood People.’
As a child actor, Kim Sae-ron was recognized for her acting skills and was active not only in acting but also in variety shows. However, in May 2022, she came under scrutiny due to a drunk driving incident. At that time, Kim Sae-ron drove her car near Hakdong Intersection in Gangnam, Seoul, hitting guardrails and transformers on the roadside. She tested positive for alcohol on the police's 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 dramas and the entertainment industry. 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. Ultimately, 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, in March of last year, she posted a photo with actor Kim Soo-hyun on her social media, leading to self-inflicted dating rumors.
Kim Sae-ron completed filming for the movie ‘Guitar Man’ in November last year and was preparing for her return to activities with this film. Ultimately, the movie became her last work.
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