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The Independent
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The pressure of South Korea's celebrity culture as a new case raises questions
A tragic suicide and accusations of an underage relationship have ignited a controversy within the Asian entertainment industry, raising concerns about the intense public scrutiny faced by celebrities, particularly during times of personal crisis. The harsh glare of media attention and the often-unforgiving nature of online commentary are increasingly being questioned as contributing factors to the pressures faced by young stars. This week, actor Kim Soo-hyun vehemently denied allegations of a relationship with the late actor Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. Kim Soo-hyun's emotional press conference follows Kim Sae-ron's suicide in February, which reignited allegations that they were romantically involved. Here's what we know about the case. Who was Kim Sae-ron? Kim Sae-ron was once one of South Korea's most promising film stars. She began acting at age 9 in the 2009 film 'A Brand New Life,' which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. She gained further recognition with 'The Man from Nowhere' (2010) and 'A Girl at My Door' (2014), also invited to Cannes. Her career halted in May 2022 after she crashed her car in Seoul while driving under the influence. Despite offering a public apology and reportedly paying compensation to shops that lost power because of the crash, she faced relentless negative attention. Media and online commentators scrutinised her personal life. YouTube gossip channels accused her of exaggerating financial difficulties and questioned her sincerity. Critics, and her family, say it contributed to her declining mental health. . Who is Kim Soo-hyun and what is he accused of? Kim Soo-hyun, 37, also has been one of South Korea's most recognized actors, known for dramas such as 'My Love from the Star' (2013) and 'Queen of Tears' (2024) as well as films like 'The Thieves' (2012) and 'Secretly, Greatly' (2013). Speculation about a relationship with Kim Sae-ron began last year when she posted a photo of them together, quickly deleted. Gold Medalist, the agency co-founded by Kim Soo-hyun, denied the relationship, according to South Korean media. Days after Kim Sae-ron's death, a YouTube channel known for its politically charged content, HoverLab, alleged that she and Kim Soo-hyun had been in a six-year romantic relationship beginning in 2015, when she was 15 and he was in his late 20s. The channel released what it called evidence including photos, videos and letters. Kim Soo-hyun has called them fabricated. Kim Sae-ron's family had approached HoverLab to release the materials, calling it an attempt to restore Kim Sae-ron's image. On March 27, a lawyer representing Kim Sae-ron's family presented to journalists what the family claimed was a photo of an undelivered letter written in 2024 in which Kim Sae-ron described Kim Soo-hyun as her 'first and last love' and referenced a five-to-six-year relationship. The letter was written after she failed to reach Kim Soo-hyun to discuss a debt she owed his agency, according to the lawyer. After Kim Sae-ron's contract ended and wasn't renewed, the agency asked her to pay back 700 million won (about $520,000) in damages related to her drunk-driving case. Her family says the demand placed severe pressure on her. Kim Soo-hyun has acknowledged that he dated Kim Sae-ron but insisted their relationship began after she became an adult. He called claims of an underage relationship false and damaging. 'It is also not true that the deceased made a tragic choice because of my avoidance (of her), or because my agency pressured her about debt," an emotional Kim told Monday's press conference. He refused to answer a question about when he first met Kim Sae-ron. Could there be legal consequences? Whether any laws were broken depends largely on timing. South Korea raised its age of sexual consent from 13 to 16 in 2020. Kim Sae-ron was born in 2000, and the family alleges the relationship began in 2015, when she was 15 and Kim Soo-hyun was 27. Kim Soo-hyun maintains that their relationship lasted from summer 2019 to fall 2020, when Kim Sae-ron was a legal adult. Kim Soo-hyun's agency has taken legal action against the family of Kim Sae-ron and HoverLab, which first aired the underage relationship claims, for distributing private photos and videos of the actor, including images of Kim Soo-hyun kissing the late actor. Kim's agency said Kim Sae-ron had visited his apartment and his family was present. The agency said they were not dating at the time. On Monday, Kim Soo-hyun's lawyer announced a civil lawsuit seeking 12 billion won (approximately $8.15 million) in damages against the YouTube channel and Kim Sae-ron's family, along with criminal complaints alleging defamation and violation of privacy laws. Kim Soo-hyun and his agency also sued the YouTube channel operator for stalking. The family's legal representative and HoverLab both said on Wednesday that they plan to sue Kim Soo-hyun and his agency for making false claims about his relationship with the late actor. What role did online harassment play? Kim's death reignited criticism of South Korea's relentless tabloid and digital media culture. Her family has singled out videos with speculative, unverified content portraying her as emotionally unstable and morally questionable. Suing for defamation is often a lengthy, costly battle for South Korean celebrities, as many platforms, like YouTube, are based overseas. Punishments are typically light, with fines or suspended sentences. Other high-profile cases following negative online attention have included the deaths of K-pop singers Sulli and Goo Hara in 2019 and 'Parasite' actor Lee Sun-kyun in 2023. What's the fallout? Fashion brand Prada has ended its collaboration with Kim Soo-hyun. South Korean cosmetics company Dinto terminated its one-year contract with him, citing the seriousness of the controversy. 7-Eleven Taiwan cancelled a Kim Soo-hyun fan event last month, citing schedule changes. An online petition this week calling for the age of consent to be raised from 16 to 19 has gathered nearly 40,000 signatures on the National Assembly's website. Suggested reforms in South Korea meant to discourage harsh online comments have not been passed.
Korea Herald
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Kim Sae-ron's final film set for release
Kim Sae-ron's posthumous film "Everyday We Are" will premiere later this year, the film's director has confirmed to local media, following the actor's untimely death on Sunday. She was 24. Kim Min-jae, the film's director, is editing footage for the romance drama adapted from a webtoon of the same name, according to local media reports Thursday. No specific release date has been set, though the film is expected in the second half of 2025. The story follows Yeo-ul, a basketball-loving high school student played by Kim, who develops romantic feelings for her childhood friend Ho-su (Lee Chae-min). The project, which finished shooting in 2021, will be shown as a feature-length film before being released as a seven-episode drama series. "We had plans to release the film later this year," the director told Yonhap News Agency. "The recent news came as a shock. I believe the best thing I can do for Sae-ron now is to show audiences her brilliant acting talent and the beauty she brought to her work." Kim began her acting career at the age of 9 with "A Brand New Life" (2009), which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. She earned acclaim for her performances in "The Man From Nowhere" (2010) and "A Girl at My Door" (2014). Her television work included the period fantasy "Mirror of the Witch" (2016). However, Kim's acting career faced a major setback in May 2022 after a drunk driving incident in Gangnam, southern Seoul. She crashed her car into a guardrail and transformer, cutting off electricity to dozens of businesses. Following public backlash, she withdrew from drama series "Trolley" and had most of her scenes edited out of Netflix's "Bloodhounds." After the incident, Kim largely retreated from public life, though local media reported she had been attempting to return to acting through small-budget projects and stage plays. Another posthumous work, the film "Guitar Man," is scheduled for release in May, according to local media reports.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kim Sae-ron dies at 24 in apparent suicide
Feb. 17 (UPI) -- South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron has died in an apparent suicide. She was 24 years old. The New York Times reported Kim was found dead by a friend at her home Sunday, according to the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul. Kim was just nine years old when her role in A Brand New Life helped catapult her to fame. She later appeared in such films as The Man from Nowhere, The Neighbors and A Girl at My Door. But her professional life hit a snag when she was convicted of driving under the influence in 2022, CNN reports. She took to social media at the time to address the public outcry. "There is no excuse for this distasteful incident," the actress said in May 2022. Kim was attached to the Netflix series Bloodhounds at the time of her DUI. Most of her scenes were edited out after the incident, according to Variety. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support. Globally, the International Association for Suicide Prevention has contact information for crisis centers around the world.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
South Korean actress, Netflix star Kim Sae-ron's cause of death released: Reports
South Korean police have announced a cause of death for actress Kim Sae-ron, reports say. Authorities presume Kim, who was found dead at her home by a friend, died by suicide, according to The New York Times and South Korean outlets like The Korea Times and Yonhap News Agency. USA TODAY has reached out to South Korean police for confirmation. The South Korean star was known for her roles in movies like "A Brand New Life" and "The Man from Nowhere." She was 24. The friend, who was going to meet the actress, discovered her and called police, Yonhap News Agency and the Korea Times reported. Police found no foul play or note left by Kim, according to the outlets. Kim began acting when she was 9 and debuted in the 2009 South Korean film "A Brand New Life," which screened that year at Cannes Film Festival. In its review, Variety praised the young actress for her "concentrated, thoroughly convincing" performance. The following year, Kim starred in "The Man from Nowhere." The action-thriller became South Korea's highest-grossing film of 2010, outperforming "Inception" and "Iron Man 2" in the country, according to Box Office Mojo. Kim was also known for movies like "I Am a Dad" and "A Girl at My Door," the latter of which screened at Cannes Film Festival in 2014. In a review of "A Girl at My Door" for Seongyong Cho wrote that Kim, who "previously made a breakthrough with her remarkable debut performance" in "A Brand New Life," was "exceptional." On the television side, Kim starred in shows like "Hi! School: Love On" and "Secret Healer," also known as "Mirror of the Witch." She most recently appeared in the Netflix series "Bloodhounds," which debuted in 2023. In 2022, her acting career took a hit after she was involved in a drunk driving incident. In a statement on Instagram at the time, Kim apologized for making a "big mistake in a drunken state," according to a translation from the Korean entertainment website Soompi. "I have no excuses for this unfortunate incident and I feel so ashamed and disappointed in myself for the mistake I made," she said at the time. "I will deeply reflect and reflect again to ensure that something like this never happens again. I'm sorry." If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741. Contributing: Ju-min Park, Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kim Sae-ron cause of death released: Reports
See - Sada Elbalad
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Kim Sae-ron's Cause of Death Revealed
The cause of death of South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron has been revealed. According to Seongdong Police in Seoul and Yonhap News Agency, Kim's death has been ruled a suicide. No note was left, the news agency reported. Known for her roles in "The Man from Nowhere" and "The Neighbor", the actress was found dead on Sunday at her home in Seoul by a friend, who called the police. She was 24. One of South Korea's highly praised and popular actors, Kim's career paused after she was fined 20 million won ($13,800) for driving under the influence in 2022. At the time she had issued an apology on her Instagram account, saying 'There is no excuse for this distasteful incident.' Following the incident, Kim left her role in the SBS drama Trolley shortly after taking it, and she opted not to renew her contract with her agency Gold Medalist later that year. She most recently appeared as Kim Hyeon-joo in Netflix's "Bloodhounds". Born July 31, 2000, in Seoul, Kim began her career as a child actress with roles in such films as "A Brand New Life" (2009) and "I Am a Dad" (2011), before taking on leading roles as a teen in movies like "A Girl at My Door (2014), and "The Villagers" (2018), as well as shows like "Listen to My Heart", "The Queen's Classroom", and "Love Playlist". Kim's work in "A Girl at My Door" earned her Best New Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, years after winning the same accolade at the Korean Film Awards for her performance in "The Man from Nowhere".
