South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron, a former baby 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 good friend who had visited her home, in accordance with the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul. The police on Monday mentioned Ms. Kim’s dying was a suicide.
One in all 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 {industry}, which has confronted criticism for the toll it locations on the psychological well being of its burgeoning stars. A celeb’s recognition is usually contingent on a spotless popularity, specialists say.
Over the previous few years, a number of younger stars had been dominated to have died by suicide, one after receiving hate messages for being outspoken and opinionated, and one other after a authorized 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 few woman deserted in an orphanage, in 2009. She was 9 years outdated when the film premiered and was invited to the Cannes Movie Pageant.
She continued to look in each big- and small-screen productions, accumulating not less than 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 beneath the affect. She crashed her automotive right into a guardrail and transformer, slicing off electrical energy to dozens of close by companies for a number of hours, in accordance with Yonhap Information Company, which reported that her alcohol ranges exceeded 0.2 p.c. Having an alcohol degree over 0.03 p.c 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 is no such thing as 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 had been edited out of the ultimate lower, in accordance with the entertainment-industry publication Selection, and she or he didn’t attend promotional occasions with the opposite members of the forged. Ms. Kim additionally stepped down from her position in one other tv drama by a neighborhood broadcaster.
After that, she largely stayed out of the general public eye. Native media has reported that the actress was trying to return to the leisure {industry} in small-budget initiatives and a stage play. Her final appearing credit score stays Netflix’s “Bloodhounds,” in accordance with the {industry} web site IMDb.
Followers of Ms. Kim took to social media to specific 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 achieve the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/sources for a listing 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.
