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| ▲ This file photo provided by Mnet shows actress Kim Sae-ron. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- The news of actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing at the age of 25 has prompted an outpouring of condolences from fellow celebrities.
Fellow actors and artists, including Won Bin, Han So-hee, and AKMU’s Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Su-hyun, visited the late actress’s funeral on Monday at Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
According to Won Bin’s agency Eden Nine, the actor paid his respects around noon and sent a floral tribute in both his and his wife Lee Na-young’s names. Won Bin and Kim Sae-ron previously worked together in the 2010 film The Man from Nowhere.
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| ▲ This Yonhap file photo shows late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron (L) and actor Won Bin, lead cast for hit film "The Man From Nowhere." (Yonhap) |
Han So-hee was known to have had a close friendship with Kim Sae-ron, while Lee Su-hyun, who was once in the same agency as her, had appeared on TV as one of her closest friends.
Tributes also poured in online from colleagues and friends.
Actress Kim Ok-bin shared a photo of a white chrysanthemum on her social media with a brief message: “May she rest in peace.” Although she did not mention Kim Sae-ron by name, the timing of the post led many to interpret it as a tribute to the late actress.
Actor Kim Soo-kyum posted a black-and-white photo with Kim Sae-ron and wrote, “I’ll always tell you what I wanted to say. Be happy, wherever you are.”
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| ▲ This image of late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron is provided by Kakao TV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Kim Min-chae, who co-starred with Kim Sae-ron in the film The Villagers, also expressed her condolences, sharing a scene from the movie on social media. She wrote, “I was so happy to have met you as my daughter in the film. Rest in peace.”
Yezi, a former member of the girl group FIESTAR, posted an image of dandelion seeds and expressed her sorrow, saying, “I’m so sad. The few times I met her, she left an impression as a loyal and kind person. Tonight feels like it’s going to be a long one.”
Yoo Ara, a former member of Hello Venus, posted a photo of Kim Sae-ron and shared her regret, writing, “I’m sorry I only gave you nagging instead of warm words. I’m sorry and thankful, and I will remember you and pray for you, my shining star.”
Actresses Seo Ye-ji, Seo Ha-jun, Go Won-hee, and singer Jeon Hyo-sung also posted photos of white chrysanthemums in tribute. Her former agency, Gold Medalist, released a brief statement: “We extend our deepest condolences.”
Meanwhile, some have pointed out the excessive online criticism Kim Sae-ron faced during her lifetime, with tributes also including reflections on the harsh nature of public scrutiny.
Yale University psychiatry professor Na Jong-ho wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Kim Sae-ron’s death feels like one of someone driven to the edge. I remember seeing the relentless malicious comments directed at her.”
He continued, “A society that completely ostracizes individuals without any chance for redemption isn’t a healthy one. Our society is starting to resemble a giant Squid Game.”
Singer Migyo also criticized online trolls, saying, “It takes someone’s death for the haters to stop. They probably don’t even realize they’re cyberbullies.”
A statement from the Female Celebrities Gallery on the online forum DC Inside read, “Kim Sae-ron acknowledged her mistakes and tried to rebuild her life. But the criticism and rejection she faced went beyond what any human should have to endure.”
Kim Sae-ron began her career as a child model in Enfant magazine in 2001 and made her acting debut in the 2009 film A Brand New Life, a Korean-French co-production directed by Lee Chang-dong. The film’s invitation to the Cannes Film Festival made her the youngest Korean actress to ever walk the red carpet at the prestigious event.
She went on to star in The Man from Nowhere, A Girl at My Door, and dramas such as Can You Hear My Heart?, Mom Is Acting Up, and The Queen’s Classroom.
However, in May 2022, she was involved in a drunk driving accident, leading to her withdrawal from the drama Trolley and the editing out of most of her scenes in the Netflix series Bloodhounds.
Kim had planned to return to acting with the play Dongchimi after a two-year hiatus, but she withdrew a day after the announcement due to public backlash and health reasons. Her final film, Guitar Man, is set for release posthumously.
Her funeral is being held in Room 7 of the Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The burial will take place at 6:20 a.m. on Wednesday.
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