Celebrity

Meeting the Late Kim Sae-ron 13 Years Ago Was Truly a Blessing: The Sparkle in Her Eyes, Her Pure Smile

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Last night, I had an incredibly sad dream—one where I met and spoke with Kim Sae-ron, who is now gone. We actually met 13 years ago. I still remember the sparkle in her eyes and her pure, radiant smile when she was just a 13-year-old girl.

In my interview article back then, I even wrote, “She has bright eyes and is a lovely actress.” I recall how she made a cute face, sticking out her tongue after taking a sip of her drink, saying, “It’s way too sweet—it tastes like colored clay.” Kim Sae-ron had already impressed audiences with her profound performances in “A Brand New Life”, “The Man from Nowhere” and “The Neighbor”, but in real life, she was nothing like her dark and somber on-screen characters. I had expected her to be a bit introverted, but instead, she was bubbly, full of laughter and endlessly curious.

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Typically, during an interview, a journalist asks questions, but Kim Sae-ron had just as many for me. She wanted to know what I thought of her films, what aspects of her acting I liked, and even whether I had ever been to certain places we talked about. At one point, she suddenly said “I really miss my friends“, her eyes welling up with tears. Her mother, who was with us, explained, “Sae-ron loves her friends so much. She always brings them over to our house. On moving day, they even stayed up all night chasing after the car as we left.

At first, she was shy, but as the conversation became more fun, she eagerly shared her stories. When the interview ended, her mother told me “Sae-ron really likes you” and even took a picture of us together. Later, I saw that Kim Sae-ron had uploaded the photo on her Cyworld account, along with a heartfelt caption. Since I had always admired her as an actress, I happily saved the photo as a keepsake. That was the last memory I have of her.

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Many child actors face growing pains when transitioning into adult roles, but Kim Sae-ron was steadily establishing herself through various genres and challenging roles. Then, in 2022, her career came to a halt after a DUI incident. Drunk driving is undeniably wrong, but as a public figure, the punishment she endured went far beyond the legal repercussions. She faced hundreds of millions of won in contract penalties, financial difficulties and relentless public scrutiny. After 2 years of self-reflection, she attempted a comeback, but public backlash crushed her chances.

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In October 2024, my publication exclusively reported on Kim Sae-ron’s return to acting, sharing photos from her new film “Guitar Man”. On set, she looked bright and cheerful, working diligently and passionately. Those who worked with her praised her for being easy-going and dedicated. Her affection for people remained unchanged—she even gave gifts to staff members to show her appreciation.

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However, the response to the article was brutal. “Are you trying to help a criminal return to the industry?“, “I never want to see her on TV again. Stop writing about her.” Although news comment sections were removed, the onslaught of hate continued on SNS and YouTube. And yet, after she tragically passed away on February 16, the same people who hounded her with vicious comments suddenly filled online spaces with messages like, “Poor Sae-ron, she didn’t deserve this.” Where were these people when she was desperately struggling?

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Currently, an intense battle over the truth is unfolding between Kim Sae-ron’s family and Kim Soo-hyun. Kim Soo-hyun initially denied dating her but later admitted to their relationship only after photos surfaced. Which side is telling the truth? We don’t know yet, but one day, the truth will come out.

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Today marks exactly one month since Kim Sae-ron left us. I want to remember her as an actress—someone who gave us films that became a part of our lives. She once told me, “I want to become a deep and upright actress—someone who sees things broadly, listens closely and conveys emotions with sincerity.” I hope that is how she will be remembered.

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