Sad Ending Of A Child Star: Drunk-driving Kim Sae Ron’s Life Ended Shortly At 25
According to the Seongdong Police Station on February 16, Kim Sae-ron was found unconscious at her residence. A friend, unable to contact her, visited her home and discovered her unresponsive before calling the authorities. However, by the time emergency responders arrived, she had already passed away. The sudden news sent shockwaves online, with fans mourning her tragic life.
A Promising Career Cut Short
Kim Sae-ron first entered the entertainment industry at just nine years old, winning a 1,000-to-1 competition to land the lead role in the 2009 film “A Brand New Life.” The role earned her multiple Best New Actress awards at prestigious film festivals, establishing her as a child prodigy.
The following year, she starred alongside Won Bin in “The Man from Nowhere,” skyrocketing to fame. While Won Bin has since taken an extended hiatus from acting, Kim Sae-ron continued to build her career, transitioning smoothly from child actress to leading roles in both films and dramas.
Scandals and Controversies
However, trouble followed her throughout her career. In February 2014, a photo of Kim Sae-ron with a wine bottle, taken while she was still a middle school student, surfaced online. Additional images showing alcohol and cigarettes in her vicinity fueled controversy over alleged underage drinking and smoking.
At the time, Kim Sae-rondefended herself, stating, “It was just before the holidays, and I was sitting on the sofa for a family wine party. I wasn’t even aware of the presence of alcohol.” Regarding the smoking controversy, she added, “I was just excited to finally have a break from my busy schedule and was jumping around in a karaoke room. I didn’t even notice the cigarette.”
In May 2022, now an adult, Kim Sae-ron was involved in a serious drunk driving accident. While driving under the influence in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, she crashed into multiple structures, including guardrails, trees, and an electrical transformer, before attempting to flee the scene. The accident caused a power outage in nearby businesses for over three hours. When police arrived, she refused a breathalyzer test and instead requested a blood test, which later confirmed a blood alcohol level of 0.2%, far exceeding the threshold for license revocation.
A Downward Spiral
The day after the accident, Kim Sae-ron issued a handwritten apology, admitting, “On May 18, I caused an accident that damaged public property in Gangnam. At the time, I was intoxicated and made a grave mistake. Due to my poor judgment and actions, I harmed business owners, citizens, and those involved in the recovery efforts. I should have acted more responsibly, and I deeply apologize.”
During her first trial, prosecutors acknowledged the severity of her crime, stating, “Although she fled the scene, she is a first-time offender and has compensated the victims, which was taken into consideration.” She was ultimately fined 20 million won.
Kim Sae-ron’s lawyer pleaded for leniency, “She is committed to staying away from alcohol, has sold all her cars, and personally apologized to the victims while covering their damages. She has also been financially supporting her family as the primary breadwinner.”
Despite stepping away from the industry for self-reflection, Kim Sae-ron’s social media activity sparked further controversy. She posted and then quickly deleted an intimate selfie with actor Kim Soo-hyun, fueling dating rumors. Later, after her attempted stage comeback with the play “Dongchimi” was canceled, she shared cryptic posts like “How to apologize to your boss” and “I’m struggling… Can you all just stop?” before deleting them.
Instead of a career comeback, Kim Sae-ron ultimately chose to end her life, leaving fans devastated. While some had hoped for her return to the screen, believing that “Hate the crime, not the person,” she ultimately brought her own story to a tragic conclusion.