Drained of Blood for a Lifetime: Kim Sae-ron Left with 2.15 million in Debt Before Passing

The Korean star Kim Sae-ron was reportedly found dead at home on the 16th, at the age of 24. The news shocked many. After investigation, police found no signs of external intrusion at her residence, nor any criminal suspicion, and urged media to exercise restraint: “Please consider the feelings of the deceased and their family, and refrain from writing about the cause and manner of death.” Korean media also revealed that she was in debt of 700 million won (about 2.15 million ringgit) at the time of her death, which she was unable to repay.

According to Korean media reports, Kim Sae-ron, once dubbed a “genius child star,” had been acting since childhood. Most of her income was used for investing in her parents' business and supporting the family's living expenses. Following a DUI incident, her former agency paid the settlement and penalty fees on her behalf.

Insiders revealed that the former agency paid off the penalty fees, forcing Kim Sae-ron to promise repayment of 700 million won. However, with her passing, it seems she will never be able to fulfill this. Fans lamented that despite her early career start, Kim Sae-ron virtually had no assets of her own, “she was drained of blood her whole life.”

Fifteen years ago, Kim Sae-ron rose to fame with her performance in the film "The Man from Nowhere." On the 17th, the film's director Lee Jung-beom visited the mourning hall to pay respects and expressed sorrow to Korean media, slowly stating, “I thought of her as my daughter and really owe her a lot.”

Lee Jung-beom, who is currently a professor at Korea National University of Arts, met Kim Sae-ron for the first time while directing "The Man from Nowhere" in 2010. The film successfully attracted 6.28 million viewers and received good reviews. Kim Sae-ron was praised as a “genius child star” for her outstanding performance alongside Won Bin. Lee Jung-beom remarked, “Rather than calling Sae-ron a genius child star, it's more apt to say she was a child with a rich emotional world. While other young actors may fall into mimicking performances, she was not like that. You could feel that although she was young, it was as if you were conversing with a 20-something actor.”

Back then, Kim Sae-ron could become friends with the male lead Won Bin in the film, making many viewers envious. However, she once admitted, “I actually didn’t know who Won Bin was, I just went to act, so I wasn’t nervous at all.” Both on and off-screen, they were good friends, creating a deep bond. Having been away from the public eye for a long time, Won Bin made a rare public appearance to bid farewell to Kim Sae-ron. He and his wife Lee Na-young first sent a flower wreath and then personally appeared to mourn, overwhelmed with grief.

Source: Liberty Entertainment + United Daily News