Photo via Wikipedia Creative Commons
Seoul, South Korea – South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron, best known for her roles in A Brand New Life and The Man From Nowhere, was found dead at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on Sunday, according to BBC News. A friend discovered her body after she failed to attend a scheduled meeting, and authorities have found no signs of foul play. Police are currently investigating the cause of her death.
Born in 2000, Kim started her acting career at the age of nine and gained international attention for her performance in A Brand New Life (2009), which was featured at the Cannes Film Festival, making her one of the youngest South Korean actors to attend the event, as described by MSN News. She further rose to prominence in The Man From Nowhere (2010), South Korea’s highest-grossing film that year.
Kim continued to take on challenging roles, including performances in The Neighbor (2012) and A Girl at My Door (2014), which earned her critical acclaim. Her work extended to television, with notable appearances in The Queen’s Classroom (2013), Hi! School – Love On (2014), and the historical drama Mirror of the Witch (2016).
However, in May 2022, Kim faced significant professional and personal setbacks due to a DUI incident in Seoul’s Gangnam District, which resulted in property damage. She was fined KRW 20 million ($13,815) for the offense and took a hiatus from acting, stepping away from the public eye.
Kim had been set to make a comeback with the Netflix series Bloodhounds (2023), but most of her role was edited out following the controversy. She also withdrew from the drama Trolley and was scheduled to return to acting in 2024 with the play Dongchimi, though she ultimately stepped back from that project as well, according to BBC News.
Despite her struggles, Kim Sae-ron’s contributions to Korean cinema and television left a lasting impact. Her performances resonated with audiences both domestically and internationally, securing her place in the industry’s history.
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