South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron, 24, found dead at home; friend says she was planning a comeback after DUI scandal

Kim began her acting career as a child actor in Ounie Lecomte’s A Brand New Life (2009). However, her most notable work remains her appearance in the neo-noir action thriller The Man from Nowhere (2010), co-starring South Korean actor Won Bin. The film was South Korea’s highest-grossing movie that year.

She also starred in various films such as I Am a Dad (2011), Listen to My Heart (2011), and The Neighbor (2012). By 2015, she started bagging lead roles, marking significant career growth until 2022. Her notable projects during this period include Snowy Road (2015), Secret Healer (2016), The Villagers (2018), Leverage (2019), and The Great Shaman Ga Doo-shim (2021).

However, her career took a downturn in 2022 following a drunk driving incident in Seoul. She crashed into an electrical transformer while under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently arrested, with her driving license revoked. In April 2023, a court fined her 20 million won ($13,850). Kim faced intense scrutiny after the incident, as drunk driving is completely unacceptable in South Korean society. She was subjected to brutal trolling and criticism on social media, which ultimately halted her career as she failed to secure any new roles.

Despite this setback, Kim was reportedly planning a comeback. In an interview with local media outlet Osen, an acquaintance revealed that the actor was preparing to return to the industry with the film The Guitar Man and was also planning to open a café. “She said she’d make money acting again after making a comeback with the film Guitar Man,” the acquaintance shared. “She was preparing to open a café while also getting ready to return to the entertainment industry. I still can’t believe it.”