The Late Kim Sae-ron’s Sunflower Artworks on “Queen of Tears” Finale Day Gain Attention

On April 28, 2024, Kim Sae-ron uploaded several completed artworks on her personal account. At the time, it was her first update after her return to theater had fallen through, which already attracted considerable public interest.

Kim Sae-ron had previously faced criticism for posting a personal photo with Kim Soo-hyun immediately after a kiss scene between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won aired in “Queen of Tears”. Recently, her bereaved family claimed that she uploaded the photo after receiving a demand for 700 million KRW in damages from Kim Soo-hyun’s agency and being unable to contact him. In response, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency countered, “Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun dated for about a year after she became an adult, and the agency covered her penalty fees before writing them off as losses.”

As discussions over the bereaved family’s claim that Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun had been romantically involved since 2015 continue, the fact that Kim Sae-ron passed away on February 16—Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday—has also resurfaced, adding another layer of intrigue.

Additionally, online communities have been revisiting the artworks Kim Sae-ron shared while she was alive. On April 28, 2024, she posted several dark-toned paintings filled with sunflowers. The timing of this upload, coinciding with “Queen of Tears”‘s finale, has sparked various speculations. Among the released paintings, one depicts a figure holding a half-cut sunflower under the rain, appearing sorrowful, while another strikingly shows a sunflower emerging from the character’s throat—imagery that has led to diverse interpretations and discussions.