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Hype Malaysia
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
(Video) South Korean Actor Won Bin Ends 15-Year Hiatus With A Surprise Ad
It's not always that we see an actor as loved as him, with his popularity soaring even with his hiatus dating almost 15 years. It's been a minute since Korean entertainment has been graced by its most well-loved actor on screen, and his return is too short-lived! Renowned South Korean actor Won Bin (원빈) surprised fans when he made an appearance in a new commercial for Ajung Networks, a lifestyle service platform. The 49-second ad showcases the actor's charm, even after 15 years of hiatus, which got netizens in a frenzy. The 47-year-old actor reportedly agreed to the promotional shoot as he is fond of the services provided by the company. An Ajung Networks representative commented, 'Actor Won Bin deeply connected with the brand's vision and accepted the endorsement offer. Through this campaign, we aim to drive the value of 'quality of life' together'. Netizens were, of course, excited to see the on-hiatus actor again on screens, with fans showing support over his short appearance in the commercial. YouTube user @/_WooHyun comments, 'Even AI can't make something like this. The real face of God'. Newer fans who had gained interest over talks of Won Bin's visual appeal were also stunned by his looks, with user @/kdk_dy commenting, 'I understand why people talk about Won Bin. I never thought he was handsome, but he's amazing'. Won Bin's last appearance in the limelight was his role in 'The Man From Nowhere' in 2010 starring himself and Kim Saeron. Over the years, the decorated actor stepped away from the screen but participated in various charity events. In June 2024, he was appointed the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Korea. Is this short feature a teaser for bigger roles in the future for Won Bin? Watch Won Bin's advertisement video below: Sources: Koreaboo, YouTube Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Music video starring late K-actress Kim Sae-ron released
Late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron's final film Guitar Man will be released in theatres in South Korea on May 30. PHOTO: PROSSIMA MUSIC/YOUTUBE SEOUL – A music video featuring the late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron was released on April 28, offering a final glimpse of her performance before her death in February. South Korean film distributor Cmnix unveiled the music video for the song A World Without Pain, an original soundtrack from the upcoming film Guitar Man. The music video, available on YouTube, is composed of clips from the film, in which Kim plays Yoo-jin, the female lead. The film's director Lee Sun-jung said of the late star: 'Kim Sae-ron brought a lot of bright energy and passion to the filming. I had hoped she would return with an even greater comeback, but she left us too soon. Just as the soundtrack's title says, I hope she finds happiness in a world without pain.' Lee added tha t proceeds from the soundtrack will be donated to the Korea Suicide Prevention Centre. Guitar Man is scheduled for release in South Korea on May 30. The movie, about a genius guitarist who joins an underground band, was one of Kim's final films before she committed suicide at the age of 24 in February 2025. Prior to her death, Guitar Man had seemingly signalled a comeback for Kim, whose career and reputation took a nosedive after she was caught drink-driving in May 2022, crashing into a transformer by the roadside and interrupting electricity to nearby merchants. She took a hiatus, and returned to acting with Guitar Man only in 2024. Another of her posthumous films is Everyday We Are, a romance in which she plays a high school girl who loves basketball. While filming wrapped in 2021, it is expected to be released later in 2025. Kim, who made her debut as a child star, rose to fame starring opposite actor Won Bin in the hit thriller film The Man From Nowhere (2010). Her death stirred controversy in her home country, especially after rumours surfaced that Queen Of Tears (2024) leading man Kim Soo-hyun, 37, had begun a relationship with he r when she was a minor. Kim admitted that he had dated the actress , but did so only from 2019 to 2020, after she became a legal adult. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Helplines Mental well-being Institute of Mental Health's Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 Women's Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) Counselling Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 We Care Community Services: 3165-8017 Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990 Online resources (for those aged 13 to 25) (for those aged 12 to 25) Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
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.
Korea Herald
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Why Korean society is so unforgiving to celebrities
Does Kim Sae-ron's death reflect South Korea's harsh treatment, judgment of celebrities? The death of former child actor Kim Sae-ron has once again reignited debate over South Korea's harsh and unforgiving nature toward public figures, particularly celebrities. Experts point to the nation's deep-seated culture of relative deprivation as a root cause, fueling intense societal pressure on celebrities to maintain an image of perfection and leaving little room for mistakes or redemption. Kim, who rose to fame in the 2010 film 'The Man From Nowhere,' saw her career unravel after a drunk driving incident in 2022. Her car accident caused power outages in a Seoul neighborhood, and with a blood alcohol content level of 0.2 percent, she was well over the legal limit. Although she expressed deep remorse and paid a fine of 20 million won ($13,900), public scrutiny never seemed to subside. Sociologists say that the unforgiving nature for celebrities' mistakes, which possibly drove Kim to the edge, is due to Korean society's tendency to 'constantly compare themselves to others,' leading to 'relative deprivation toward those who seem to 'have more' than them.' 'In the case of celebrities like Kim Sae-ron, from the outside, she looks perfect ― in terms of her looks, her lifestyle and finances. The 'perfect life' that most Koreans crave to live puts celebrities at the center of jealousy,' sociology professor Huh Chang-deog from Yeungnam University told The Korea Herald. 'Due to societal problems that currently take hold in Korea, such as high living prices, many Koreans tend to develop a sense of being impoverished and wanting more, comparing themselves with celebrities. This puts celebrities at the center of respect but, ironically, also arouses a sense of jealousy and hatred toward them for having what they don't have,' Huh explained . Another sociology professor, Choi Hang-sub from Kookmin University, said the attention and popularity celebrities in Korea receive is like a 'double-edged sword,' as emotions linked to jealousy can exacerbate further once a celebrity is seen making mistakes. 'Though public figures, especially celebrities, have always been held up to extremely high standards, it has gotten even more common recently to see celebrities get pushed over the edge, as people wish to feel a sense of power and pleasure from playing a part in condemning and destroying others,' said Choi. Seol Dong-hoon from Jeonbuk National University told The Korea Herald that it is also due to Korean society's rigorous expectations, a deeply ingrained sense of collectivism and a culture that places immense pressure on individuals to conform. 'Such social traits have fostered a zero-tolerance environment, where personal failures, especially among celebrities, are seen as irredeemable. The nation's competitive nature, driven by strict educational and professional hierarchies, leaves little room for mistakes,' said Seol. "Public figures who err are not just criticized — they are erased." Unlike other countries where celebrities have been able to rebuild their careers after similar incidents, Kim appeared to have found herself permanently ostracized, according to local reports quoting industry insiders. Kim lost acting roles, had her scenes cut from Netflix productions and was blacklisted by brands and media outlets. Her attempts at rebuilding her life -- taking a cafe job and later preparing for a return through theater -- was met with further ridicule and online harassment. Even a simple social media post of hers sparked waves of renewed criticism. Kim's fate was also not unique, as Korea has a history of treating public figures with extreme harshness once they are perceived to have erred. The entertainment industry, in particular, enforces a moral standard that often leaves no room for second chances. As for the reasons behind such a sentiment, sociology professor Koo Jeong-woo from Sungkyunkwan University told The Korea Herald that there is an unspoken 'social contract' that Koreans hold over celebrities based on moral standards. 'In Korea, being a celebrity isn't just a special career, they are expected to meet public expectations and are held up to high moral standards,' said Koo. 'In the case of fans and celebrities in particular, you can say that there's something like a social contract between them, where fans say they will organize special events and conduct nice gestures for the celebrities' successes, while expecting them to act responsibly in return.' Koo added that it could also be because fans in Korea find their identities 'linked' with the celebrities. 'A lot of Korean fans show a tendency of linking the celebrities' identities with theirs, which is how a lot of intimacy is created between the fans and the celebrities. But this also has drawbacks, as committing offenses like drunk driving can also make the fans turn their backs in a heartbeat,' said Koo. Harsher standards for women? Meanwhile, some question whether Kim had been treated more harshly because she was a young female celebrity. "Male celebrities with similar offenses have managed to return," some critics argued. "Would she have faced this level of scrutiny if she were a man?" The entertainment industry has long been criticized for its double standards, particularly in how it handles scandals involving male versus female stars. While some male celebrities have committed crimes and still managed to return to the public eye after brief periods of self-reflection, women often face harsher, irreversible consequences for even minor controversies. Kim's death at just 24 -- an age when most people are only beginning their adult lives -- raises painful questions. How did a young woman, who once stood as one of South Korea's most promising talents end up being pushed to such an extreme fate? How does a society that claims to value justice and fairness continue to selectively punish some while allowing others to move on? While no one denies that drunk driving is a serious offense, Seol notes that there is a fundamental difference between ensuring someone faces consequences and perpetually tormenting them for their mistake. "Every individual deserves an opportunity for redemption, but South Korean society often refuses to grant this to those who have fallen from grace. Instead, it continuously reinforces their transgressions, making it nearly impossible for them to move forward," said Seol. Huh echoed the sentiment that society must change itself to be more 'tolerant' of other people's mistakes. 'People grow and become better people by making mistakes. Society must remember that just because someone is a celebrity and looks perfect doesn't mean they're actually perfect, and that they're human too -- prone to make some sort of mistake in the long run,' said Huh.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix Star Kim Sae-ron's Cause of Death Revealed: Report
Actress Kim Sae-ron's cause of death has been revealed. According to multiple outlets, including The New York Times, police on Monday, February 17, ruled Sae-ron's death a suicide. "We believe she made an extreme choice and plan to handle it as a suicide," a police official told reporters, per Yonhap News Agency. Sae-ron was found dead at her home on Sunday, February 16, by a friend who had visited her house, the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul told The New York Times. She was 24 years old. 'We have not found any signs of foul play as of yet, but we are investigating the circumstances of the death,' a police spokesperson told Yonhap on Sunday. 'Bloodhounds' Star Kim Sae-ron Found Dead Inside Home at 24, Police Officials Confirm Sae-ron began acting in 2009, starring in A Brand New Life, The Man From Nowhere, The Neighbors, A Girl at My Door, Snowy Road and The Villagers. She last appeared in Netflix's 2023 series Bloodhounds. Sae-ron's acting career suffered following a drunk driving incident in May 2022. The Netflix star was fined about $14,000 after her blood alcohol levels exceeded 0.2 percent, per Yonhap News Agency. (An alcohol level over 0.03 percent while driving is considered a D.U.I offense in South Korea.) 'First, I apologize for informing you of the accident and the damages late. I caused an accident in Gangnam around 8 a.m. yesterday, May 18, where I damaged public property. At the time, I was drunk and made a big mistake,' she said in a translated Instagram statement. 'Due to my poor judgment and actions, I caused damage to many people, including the merchants in the surrounding stores, citizens, and those who were helping with the repairs. I should have acted more carefully and responsibly, but I was unable to do so. I sincerely apologize.' 'Parasite' Actor Lee Sun-kyun Dead At Age 48 After Apparent Suicide She continued, 'I am currently working with the company to sort out the damages caused by the accident, and I will do my best to communicate and actively resolve the issue until the end.' Sae-ron also issued an apology to her coworkers at the time. 'I am also very sorry to my fellow actors, staff, and production crew for causing disruption to the work I was filming and preparing for. I deeply apologize once again and apologize for causing concern,' she concluded. 'There is no room for excuses for this unfortunate incident, and I am disappointed and ashamed of my own mistakes. I will deeply reflect and reflect again so that something like this will never happen again. I am sorry.' If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at
