South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seoul on Sunday. She was just 24 years old.
Police confirmed that a friend discovered Kim’s body, and while there were no signs of foul play, authorities are still investigating the circumstances of her passing.
Kim rose to fame as a child actress, winning hearts with her performance in the 2009 film A Brand New Life, which even took her to the Cannes Film Festival. She later starred in hit movies like The Man from Nowhere and The Neighbors, proving her talent in both action-packed and emotional roles. But in recent years, her career took a sharp downturn.
In April 2023, a court in Seoul found Kim guilty of drunk driving after she crashed her car a year earlier. Though she avoided jail time, she was fined around $14,000, and the incident led her to step away from the spotlight. Her last known role was in Netflix’s 2023 K-drama Bloodhounds.
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After news of her death broke, fellow actors paid tribute to her. Actress Kim Ok-bin posted a white chrysanthemum—a flower that symbolizes mourning in many Asian cultures—on Instagram, writing, “May you rest in peace.” Her The Neighbors co-star Kim Min-che also shared a heartfelt message, remembering their time playing a mother and daughter on screen.
Kim’s passing adds to growing concerns about the intense pressure young stars face in South Korea’s entertainment industry. In recent years, several young K-pop idols and actors have died unexpectedly. Song Jae-lim was found dead last November at 39, ASTRO’s Moonbin passed away last year at 25, and Sulli and SHINee’s Jonghyun both died in their mid-20s.
While entertainment agencies have introduced counseling services and flexible schedules to support their artists, the industry remains highly competitive, with extreme public scrutiny and unrealistic expectations. Many worry that the pressure to maintain a perfect image is taking a heavy toll on these young stars.
Kim’s final Instagram post, a simple photo shared in January, has now gathered over 205,000 likes. The comments are turned off, but the message is clear—she is gone, but not forgotten.
