South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron, a former little one star whose promising profession suffered a setback in recent times after a drunk-driving incident, was discovered lifeless in her dwelling on Sunday afternoon, police stated.
Ms. Kim, who was 24, was found by a good friend who had visited her home, in line with the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul. There have been no indicators of dwelling intrusion or foul play, and the reason for loss of life is below investigation, the police stated.
One in every of South Korea’s most lauded younger actors, Ms. Kim had not appeared in any reveals since she confronted public criticism after being convicted of driving drunk in 2022.
Her loss of life marks the newest 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 recognition is commonly contingent on a spotless fame, specialists 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 performing profession by starring in “A Model New Life,” a movie a couple of lady deserted in an orphanage, in 2009. She was 9 years previous when the film premiered and was invited to the Cannes Movie Pageant.
She continued to seem in each big- and small-screen productions, accumulating no less than two dozen credit and receiving quite a few South Korean performing 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 degree 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 known as “Bloodhounds” that was launched in 2023. A number of of her scenes had been edited out of the ultimate minimize, according to the entertainment-industry publication Variety, and she or he 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 largely stayed out of the general public eye. Native media has reported that the actress was making an attempt to return to the leisure business in small-budget initiatives and a stage play. Her final performing credit score stays Netflix’s “Bloodhounds,” in line 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 achieve the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources 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.