South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron, a former youngster star whose promising profession suffered a setback in recent times after a drunk-driving incident, was discovered lifeless in her house on Sunday afternoon, police mentioned.
Ms. Kim, who was 24, was found by a buddy who had visited her home, in keeping with the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul. The police on Monday mentioned Ms. Kim’s dying was a suicide.
Considered one of South Korea’s most lauded younger actors, Ms. Kim had not appeared in any exhibits since she confronted public criticism after being convicted of driving inebriated in 2022.
Her dying marks the most recent tragedy to strike South Korea’s booming however high-pressure leisure business, which has confronted criticism for the toll it locations on the psychological well being of its burgeoning stars. A star’s reputation is usually contingent on a spotless repute, consultants say.
Over the previous few years, a number of younger stars were ruled to have died by suicide, one after receiving hate messages for being outspoken and opinionated, and one other after a legal battle put her romantic and intercourse life within the public area.
Ms. Kim began her appearing profession by starring in “A Model New Life,” a movie a couple of woman deserted in an orphanage, in 2009. She was 9 years outdated when the film premiered and was invited to the Cannes Movie Competition.
She continued to look in each big- and small-screen productions, accumulating at the very least two dozen credit and receiving quite a few South Korean appearing awards.
In Could 2022, Ms. Kim’s profession suffered after she was caught driving below the affect. She crashed her automotive right into a guardrail and transformer, reducing off electrical energy to dozens of close by companies for a number of hours, in accordance to Yonhap News Agency, which reported that her alcohol ranges exceeded 0.2 %. Having an alcohol stage over 0.03 % whereas driving is taken into account a D.U.I. offense in South Korea.
Ms. Kim was fined 20 million gained (round $14,000) and confronted a fierce backlash on social media from the general public and influencers, who criticized her habits as reckless. The actress issued an apology on her Instagram account, saying “there isn’t a excuse for this distasteful incident.”
On the time of the crash, Ms. Kim was filming a Netflix collection referred to as “Bloodhounds” that was launched in 2023. A number of of her scenes have been edited out of the ultimate reduce, according to the entertainment-industry publication Variety, and he or she didn’t attend promotional occasions with the opposite members of the solid. Ms. Kim additionally stepped down from her position in one other tv drama by an area broadcaster.
After that, she principally stayed out of the general public eye. Native media has reported that the actress was trying to return to the leisure business in small-budget tasks and a stage play. Her final appearing credit score stays Netflix’s “Bloodhounds,” in keeping with the business web site IMDb.
Followers of Ms. Kim took to social media to express their grief and pay tribute. Her former leisure firm, Gold Medalist, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
If you’re having ideas of suicide, name or textual content 988 to succeed in the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for an inventory of further sources.
In South Korea, name 109 for the Well being Ministry’s suicide prevention hotline, or go to the Korean-language website 129.go.kr/109.
