Kim Sae Ron passed away on February 16, 2025. She was only 24 years old.
The South Korean actress was found unconscious by her friend on Sunday afternoon in her home in Seoul. The cause of death has not been revealed yet—but police reported that the actress did not leave any note or indication leading to the reason for her passing. Nonetheless, authorities did not find any foul play or external intrusion into her home, Yonhap News reported.
Korean drama fans and some South Korean celebrities express their sympathies and regrets toward the late actress. According to Yonhap News, actors like Kim Bo Ra and Gong Myung have sent their condolences wreaths to where Sae Ron's remains lay.
Her former agency, Gold Medalist Entertainment, released a statement on the former actress's demise. "We express our deepest condolences upon hearing the sad news of Kim Sae Ron. We pray that the deceased may rest in peace," South Korean media, OSEN reported.
In case you didn't know, Sae Ron was a child actress known for several films back when the Hallyu wave was just starting to take off in the global market. She was managed by Gold Medalist from January 2020 to December 2022. The agency was also home to Queen of Tears star Kim Soo Hyun, It's Okay Not To Be Okay actress Seo Ye Ji, Hierarchy actor Lee Chae Min, Twinkling Watermelon Choi Hyun Wook, and more.
What happened to Kim Sae Ron?
Sae Ron's growing fame, however, came to a halt when she was involved in a DUI accident. In other words, she was found drunk driving in May 2022. As reports stated on May 18, 2022, multiple calls were sent to Seoul Gangnam Police Station, reporting that a car unsteadily passing through the Cheongdam district had crashed into a structure.
Following the initial reports, Sae Ron's actor agency at the time, GOLDMEDALIST Entertainment released a statement that read, "Kim Sae Ron took a blood test for accurate results, and after the test, she was escorted home by her guardian without additional investigation. The results of the blood test will be available in two weeks, and Kim Sae Ron will faithfully respond to the police's questioning afterward." She immediately released an apology letter for what happened.
At the time, the 22-year-old actress was sentenced to a 20 million Korean won fine (around P803,573), along with a major backlash that went on for years after the incident. Reports detailed that the crash that happened due to her drunk driving caused a power outage in the neighborhood, resulting in local stores closing down for five hours.
Months following her DUI case, Sae Ron was confirmed to have been struggling financially. GOLDMEDALIST appeased the public's curiosity about the former child actress. "Kim Sae Ron did spend some time working part-time at a cafe due to her financial difficulties," their statement detailed.
Now, following her death, acquaintances revealed that she actually changed her name to Kim Ah Im, aiming to make a comeback to the industry. In a report by Korea JoongAng Daily quoting news outlet OSEN, the acquaintance disclosed meeting Sae Ron in the latter half of 2024. "She was preparing to open a cafe, while also getting ready to return to the entertainment industry. I still can't believe it," the quote read.
Kim Sae Ron's works through the years
Kim Sae Ron actually had a flourishing career ahead of her. Below, we list down some of her shows that truly made a mark in the history of Korean entertainment.
A Brand New Life (2009)
Kim Sae Ron had her acting debut in 2009 with the film, A Brand New Life. She plays the character of the nine-year-old orphan, Jin Hee, who restarts her life after being left in an orphanage.
The Man From Nowhere (2010)
It was because of the film The Man from Nowhere that Sae Ron gained more prominence. Sae Ron portrayed the role of the daughter of a drug dealer. In the film, her character gets kidnapped and trapped in the middle of a drug delivery that costs lives.
Queen's Classroom (2013)
Sae Ron later on starred in a series called Queen's Classroom along with other child actors. It tells the story of a teacher who openly teaches her students about the rough realities of life.
Hi! School - Love On (2014)
Hi! School - Love On was definitely one of Sae Ron's breakthrough K-dramas that gave her a more solid grounding in the industry. In the teen drama, Sae Ron played the role of Lee Seul Bi, an angel—posed as a student in the human world—who was looking after the troubled male protagonist, Shin Woo Hyun. The story progressed showing Shin Woo Hyun and Lee Seul Bi falling in love and forging friendships in their school.
To Be Continued (2015)
Not many may know this but Sae Ron actually starred as the female protagonist alongside the K-pop boy group, ASTRO, for the web drama, To Be Continued. The story explored the notion of young love while inculcating a time slip back to ASTRO's pre-debut days.
The Great Shaman Ga Doo Shim (2021)
Through the years, Sae Ron top-billed some films and a couple of high school series. One of her series after the 2020s, was a fantasy series The Great Shaman Ga Doo Shim. She plays the character of Ga Doo Shim, and alongside another child actor Nam Da Reum.
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of actress Kim Sae Ron.
