Actress Park Jung-soo on Kim Sae-ron’s Passing: Public Backlash and the Harsh Reality of Celebrity Debt
On March 1, a video titled “Remembering Kim Sae-ron, Who Left Us at 24″ was uploaded on Noh Joo-hyun’s YouTube channel.
During the video, the production team mentioned the tragic news of Kim Sae-ron’s passing and asked the Noh Joo-hyun & Park Jung-soo for their thoughts. Kim Sae-ron passed away on February 16.
Expressing his sorrow, Noh Joo-hyun said, “It’s hard to put into words. You can’t just mourn endlessly. It’s ultimately a case of someone unable to overcome the waves of life.” Meanwhile, Park Jung-soo referenced her past DUI incident, stating that the consequences stemmed from her own actions.
Park Jung-soo emphasized, “Especially since she was a pretty-faced actress, the public tends to be even less forgiving. That’s why celebrities must be extremely careful.” She added that actors don’t just represent themselves, if they make a mistake, it can affect an entire production. Therefore, she stressed the importance of taking care of one’s health and being mindful of public behavior.
Noh Joo-hyun expressed sympathy, adding, “She was a young girl who had never faced life’s hardships before. It must have been too much for her to endure.”
Park Jung-soo also commented on the harsh judgment celebrities often face, saying, “People who leave comments online hold celebrities to an unreasonably high standard. It would be nice if they judged us somewhere between how they judge the general public and the strictness they apply to stars.”
The production team then mentioned how many assume celebrities are financially well-off, making it surprising to hear about Kim Sae-ron’s financial struggles.
Kim Sae-ron reportedly faced financial difficulties after her DUI accident in May 2022, as she had to pay billions of won in penalty fees.
In response, Park Jung-soo clarified a common misconception, stating that while some celebrities do earn significant amounts and can repay large debts quickly, that is not the case for everyone. She continued, “Of course, some make a lot. Global stars and young actors can earn billions from a single project. But there are also those who only get paid 2 to 3 million won per 60-minute episode.”