K-Drama actress Kang Seo Ha dies at 31 due to cancer

Economic Times

14-07-2025

Synopsis
The Korean entertainment industry mourns the loss of actress Kang Seo Ha, who passed away at 31 after battling cancer. Known for her subtle yet emotionally resonant performances in dramas like 'Schoolgirl Detectives' and 'Heart Surgeons,' her death has deeply saddened fans and colleagues. A memorial is being held, with her final film, 'Mangnaein,' set to be a lasting tribute.
Kang Seo Ha last worked on a film titled Mangnaein. (Pic credits- @yewonyewoni) In a heartbreaking turn for the Korean entertainment world, actress Kang Seo Ha has passed away at the age of 31 after a battle with cancer. A rising talent who carved her space with subtle performances and deep emotional range, Kang's untimely death has left fans and colleagues reeling with disbelief. According to reports in Soompi, a memorial altar has been set up at Room 8 of the funeral hall at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, with the funeral procession scheduled for 7:40 a.m. on July 16. She will be laid to rest at her family's burial site in Haman, Gyeongnam Province.
While the news of her passing came as a shock, it was a video tribute posted by a presumed family member on July 13 that truly captured the emotional depth of the loss. The post talked about the actress enduring excruciating pain, and how Kang never stopped thinking about those around her. She reportedly continued paying for her loved ones' meals even when she couldn't eat herself and bore the brunt of her illness with grace, only ever expressing gratitude that things weren't worse. The emotional tribute ended with a gut-wrenching farewell: 'I hope you are only happy and free from pain where you are now.'
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Born in 1994, Kang Seo Ha graduated from the prestigious Korea National University of Arts' School of Drama. Her first brush with fame came in 2012, when she appeared in the music video for Brave Guys' 'Getting Farther Away'. It didn't take long for her talent to shine through, and soon she became a familiar face in the K-drama landscape. Over the years, she featured in several popular dramas including Schoolgirl Detectives, First Love Again, Through the Waves, Assembly, The Flower in Prison and Heart Surgeons. Each role showcased her evolving talent and her ability to bring warmth and depth to every character she portrayed. She was not just another actress — she was an artist who believed in the transformative power of performance. Even in her final days, Kang Seo Ha continued to pursue her craft. She recently completed work on a film titled Mangnaein, which is yet to be released. The movie will now serve as a poignant and lasting tribute to an artist gone too soon. Her last Instagram post was on open water in a yacht looking happy.