Kim Sae-ron Struggled to Repay 700 Million KRW Penalty “Difficulty in Economic Activities”
In May 2022, Kim Sae-ron was involved in a drunk driving accident and was fined 20 million KRW. At the time, while under the influence, she hit a transformer, causing a power outage in nearby buildings and significant damage to the merchants.
According to TV Daily on February 18, Kim Sae-ron’s former agency Gold Medalist paid the settlement and penalty fees on her behalf, which remained as her debt. The penalty imposed by Gold Medalist is estimated to be around 700 million KRW.
It was reported that Kim Sae-ron had promised to repay the penalty after leaving the agency. However, due to the negative public opinion, she did not have the opportunity to repay the amount. Kim Sae-ron’s physical and mental health were not in good condition.
Gold Medalist sent her a notice demanding repayment, and Kim Sae-ron reportedly expressed that she was unable to engage in economic activities and requested more time to pay off the debt, assuring them that she would repay it.
Meanwhile, on February 16, Kim Sae-ron was found dead in her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Her funeral took place at Seoul Asan Medical Center’s funeral hall, and celebrities including Won Bin, Han So-hee, Kim Bo-ra and Lee Chan-hyuk came to pay their respects. Other tributes were sent by IU, the band F.T. Island, actors Ma Dong-seok and Gong Myung.
