The Silent Pain Behind the Spotlight: Kim Sae-ron, Sulli, and Goo Hara’s Tragic Struggles

“She was most hurt by her family’s indifference… they didn’t even know she was married.” These chilling words from Kim Sae-ron’s ex-boyfriend paint a heartbreaking picture of a star who, despite her fame, battled overwhelming isolation and despair.

The tragic passing of Kim Sae-ron has shaken the Korean entertainment industry once again, echoing painful memories of fellow stars Sulli and Goo Hara, both of whom also lost their lives under similarly haunting circumstances. Their stories shed light on the immense psychological toll of fame and the cruel consequences of unchecked online hate.

Kim Sae-ron’s Quiet Struggle

Kim Sae-ron, once hailed as a promising child actress, had her life derailed by relentless malicious comments, public scrutiny, and a devastating lack of familial support. Following a drunk driving incident in May 2022, her mental health deteriorated. Despite an attempted return to theater in April last year, she withdrew due to intense anxiety and ongoing backlash.

Kim made multiple suicide attempts, including one that required emergency wrist surgery in 2023, yet no family members visited her in the hospital. Her former boyfriend, Mr. K, who was with her, said, “Because of things like this, she always wanted to run away.” The fact that her family didn’t even know she had married highlighted their disconnect. Even more troubling is that an anonymous relative, calling herself her “aunt,” has since begun publicly disclosing details about Kim’s private life, as if exploiting her death for attention or gain.

Goo Hara: Betrayal After Death

Singer and actress Goo Hara, a former member of girl group KARA, passed away on November 24, 2019, at 6 p.m. in her Cheongdam-dong home in Seoul. A short handwritten note expressing despair was found on her living room table, suggesting she had taken her own life. During her lifetime, Goo Hara had frequently voiced her pain, regret, and anger over her biological mother, who had abandoned the family when Goo was just nine years old and had cut off all contact for two decades.

Shockingly, that very mother reappeared after Goo Hara’s death to claim part of her inheritance, triggering widespread public outrage. Her death sparked a national conversation around inheritance law, eventually leading to the passage of the “Goo Hara Act” after four years of campaigning by her older brother. The act, set to take effect in January 2026, prevents parents who neglected their duties or committed serious offenses such as abuse from claiming inheritance from their children.

Sulli’s Cry for Help

Just a month before Goo Hara’s death, former f(x) member Sulli was found dead in her Seongnam home on October 14, 2019. In her final appearance on JTBC’s The Night of Hate Comments, she opened up about suffering from social anxiety, panic disorder, and severe depression. Following her parents’ divorce, she was raised by her mother and maternal grandparents.

While Sulli’s emotional struggles were well-known, they were further exacerbated by constant online harassment and malicious comments. Beyond cyberbullying, her life revealed a deeper void, a fragile or absent support system, especially within her family. For Sulli, the lack of a strong emotional safety net was just as damaging as the harsh public scrutiny she faced daily.

The Role of Family and the Right to Be Forgotten

In all three cases, a common thread emerges: the lack of strong, supportive family relationships compounded their mental distress. Experts and fans alike have pointed to the entertainment industry’s failure to protect its own, especially those who carry trauma from childhood into stardom.

The rise of cyber-leaker channels and malicious gossip forums continues to exploit celebrities’ private lives for profit. Even after death, the lives of stars like Kim Sae-ron are dissected and judged, denying them dignity and peace.

“We should remember her as the actress who graced our screens, not for the controversies she never wanted,” one fan wrote online.

The tragedies of Kim Sae-ron, Sulli, and Goo Hara are more than cautionary tales, they are urgent calls for empathy, reform, and the recognition that behind every celebrity is a human being deserving of respect and care. In the end, those who die deserve at least one thing: The right to be forgotten.