2.16.2025
On February 16, 2025, at 16:54 (KST), Kim, 24, committed suicide.
Kim Sae-ron, a well-known South Korean actress, was found deceased at her home in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, on February 16, 2025, at the age of 24. A friend of hers, concerned after she missed a scheduled meeting, discovered her body and alerted authorities. Following an investigation, police concluded that her death was a suicide.
Her funeral was held privately, with family and close friends in attendance. She was laid to rest at Utopia Memorial Park in Anseong, South Korea.
Who was she?
Kim Sae-ron (김새론) was a South Korean actress who started her acting career as a child and gained quick, widespread recognition and fame for her mature performances.
- Birthday: July 31, 2000
- Debut: At age 9 in the film A Brand New Life (2009), which was invited to the Cannes Film Festival.
- Notable Role: The Man from Nowhere (2010), where she starred alongside Won Bin. Her portrayal of a kidnapped girl earned her critical acclaim and made her one of the most recognizable child actresses in Korea.
Notable Works:
- Can You Hear My Heart (2011) – K-drama
- Barbie (2011) – Indie film tackling issues of adoption and poverty
- High School Love On (2014) – Fantasy teen drama
- Secret Healer (2016) – Historical drama
Kim Sae-ron was famous for her acting, especially emotional and outstanding for her age. She often played complicated roles with sensitive topics like abandonment, poverty, and trauma. Despite starting an acting career at a very young age, was described as extremely mature for her age—both on and off screen. Her early interviews and public appearances portrays someone who wasn’t just talented, but also thoughtful and deeply aware of the emotional weight of her acting roles.
Personality & Work Ethic
Known for her professionalism, even as a child. Her directors and co-stars frequently mentioned her focus and preparedness while she was on set, rarely needing multiple takes of a scene.
Unlike many child stars who act on parental advisory, she reportedly showed an early and independent passion for acting. She once said she enjoyed “expressing emotions she hadn’t experienced yet”
Despite her fame, she was shy and introverted in interviews, answering with calm words, not overly charismatic but very sincere and humble.
Motivation for Her Career
In interviews, she explained acting wasn’t her initial dream—it mainly started out of curiosity. But once she started acting, she started loving it because it allowed her “to live many different lives.”
Her choice in roles shows her interest toward emotionally heavy or layered stories. From A Brand New Life to Barbie, she leaned toward characters dealing with abandonment, identity, or social issues unlike the typical cute or comedic roles for child actors.
She also mentioned wanting to become an actress who “can move people’s hearts”, not just entertain.
Notable Quotes:
“I don’t really like roles that are just bright and happy all the time. I want to do roles where I have to think a lot.”
“Acting is not about pretending. It’s about understanding someone else’s heart.”
What Happened?
In May of 2022, Kim was involved in a drunk-driving incident in Gangnam district, which resulted in significant public and legal consequences. Despite releasing a public apology, she faced extreme online and media harassment. This incident led to her withdrawal from multiple projects, including the Netflix series Bloodhounds, where her role was reduced.
Even years after the incident, she attempted to rebuild her career and personal life. She completed two movies, Guitar Man and Urineun Maeil Maeil (Day by Day). Additionally, she volunteered with the Blue Angels, a group dedicated to caring for abandoned animals, and used her social media to raise awareness.
Kim Sae Ron’s death has opened a broader conversation about the pressures faced by public figures in South Korea, specifically about mental health and online bullying.
The relationship between South Korean actors Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron has been the subject of significant public scrutiny, especially following Kim Sae-ron’s tragic death in February 2025.
Allegations
After Kim Sae-ron’s suicide, allegations that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a romantic relationship with her when she was underage emerged. A YouTuber, Hoverlab, claimed that their relationship began when Kim Sae-ron was only 15 years old. To support these claims, the channel released materials from Kim Sae-ron’s family. However, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, denied every allegation and threatened legal action. Later, the agency acknowledged that they had dated but stated that their relationship only lasted from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, when she was between 19 and 20 years old, and he was 31 to 32.
Public
This issue intensified when screen-shots of text messages between the two were released, suggesting that Kim Sae-ron expressed frustration over Kim Soo-hyun’s lack of communication. These messages raised public debate about the timeline of their relationship.
Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference where he denied dating Kim Sae-ron during her teenage years. He expressed his distress of being linked to her death and announced plans to take legal action against the spread of false information.
<Student Reporter Julie Rose Kim>julierosekim0721@gmail.com
Julie Kim is a Student in EF Academy Pasadena
