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Kim Sae Ron has been named one of South Korea’s most successful child actresses. Because of her successful roles, she gradually gained a reputation in entertainment.
Kim Sae Ron’s Profile
- Name: Kim Sae Ron
- Stage Name: Kim Sae Ron
- Date of Birth: July 31, 2000
- Place of Birth: Seoul, South Korea
- Height: 167 cm
- Weight: 45 kg
- Years Active: 2009 – present
- Management Company: Fantagio (2009 – 2016), YG Entertainment (2016 – 2019), Gold Medalist (2019 – 2022)
- Instagram: @ron_sae
- Twitter: @yuk0731
Successful Career
Kim Sae Ron was born on July 31, 2000 in Seoul, South Korea. She began her acting career at the age of nine through the film “A Brand New Life”. After the success of his first film, The name Kim Sae Ron became widely known to the audience. From then on, the career of an actress goes like a duck in the water. She then starred in such high-budget movies as: “The Man from Nowhere”, ”I am a dad”, ”The neighbors”, etc
Aside from her successful movies, Kim Sae Ron has also made several impact appearances on many hit TV series. Some of her most notable dramas include: “Love Playlist 4”, “Mirror of the Witch”, “Missing You” etc
After more than 13 years in the entertainment industry, the actress has received plenty of prestigious awards such as: Best New Actress award at the 2014 Blue Dragon Awards, Best Female Lead Award at Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival,… In addition, Kim Sae Ron is the youngest actress in Korean history to be nominated for the Best Actress award at The Baeksang Arts Awards at the age of 14.
In addition to her glorious acting career, Kim Sae Ron also won the hearts of fans thanks to her beautiful and gentle beauty. Thanks to that, she was invited to participate in many fashion events and became the advertising face of many big brands. Along with Kim So Hyun and Kim Yoo Jung, the actress was favored by the audience as the top child actors in Korea.
Drunk Driving Scandal
During the past 13 years, Kim Sae Ron had never been involved in a serious scandal that has affected her reputation. However, on May 18, Korean media reported that the actress was being investigated by the police for drunk driving. She crashed into a public building and was arrested while trying to flee the scene.
Immediately after the investigation results from the police agency were announced, actress Kim Sae Ron quickly admitted her behavior and apologized through the management company – Gold Medalist and then wrote a handwritten apology. Although the actress has admitted to being wrong about the incident, many viewers believe that this scandal will destroy her already-brilliant career.
In 2024, Newsen reported that a casting director revealed, “Kim Sae-ron is teaching acting to new and aspiring actors near her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul.”
After the scandal, Kim Sae-ron is unemployed. According to reports, an advertising agency official is helping Kim Sae-ron financially as she has lost her income since the beginning of this year. She teaches four to five people, including minor and aspiring actors, and sets up a group chat to schedule classes as a part-time job.
From a promising actress, Kim Sae Ron lost everything because of the wrongdoing. This was also a valuable lesson in her artistic career.
Sudden Death
On February 16, Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her residence at the age of 25 after a friend discovered her body and alerted the police. According to the police, there were no signs of forced entry, and no clear evidence has been found to suggest foul play.
Dating Scandal With Kim Soo Hyun
On February 16, Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her residence at the age of 25 after a friend discovered her body and alerted the police.
On March 24, 2024, Kim Sae-ron posted a photo of herself with Kim Soo-hyun on her Instagram story. In the photo, the actress is making close contact with the actor in comfortable clothes. Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun were born in 2000 and 1988, respectively, with a 12 year age difference. Kim Sae-ron quickly deleted the photo after posting it.
Later, an official from Kim Soo-hyun’s agency told OSEN, “We only heard about the rumor related to actor Kim Soo-hyun this morning (on the 24th). We think we will be able to give you an accurate answer only after confirming the details and facts.” Meanwhile, an acquaintance of Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron revealed, “Last night’s photo is not recent. The two are not currently dating.”
On March 10, YouTube channel Garo Saero released a video about the reason behind Kim Sae Ron’s passing, allegedly shared by someone claiming to be her aunt.
Revealed Timeline:
2015.11: The two started dating (Kim Sae-ron was 15 and Kim Soo-hyun was 27).
2019.11: Kim Soo-hyun founded Gold Medalist, signed with girlfriend Kim Sae-ron one year later.
2022.05: Kim Sae-ron’s DUI accident.
2022.12: Kim Sae-ron left Gold Medalist.
2024.03: Gold Medalist asked Kim Sae-ron to pay back 700 million won.
2024.03.23: Kim Sae-ron posted a selca (selfie) with Kim Soo-hyun on her Instagram story but later deleted it. According to the post, the photo was taken in 2016, and their romantic relationship lasted from November 19, 2015, to July 7, 2021.
2024.03.24: She reportedly prepared a post about her six-year relationship with Kim Soo-hyun, but it was never published.
Garo Sero’s Claims
On March 11, as previously scheduled, the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute uploaded a video detailing Kim Soo-hyun’s scandal, set to premiere at 7 PM (KST). Netizens noticed that the video’s thumbnail featured a photo of Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun together, along with a screenshot of a message Kim Sae-ron sent to Kim Soo-hyun on March 19, 2024.
At 8 PM (local time) March 11, the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institution held a livestream exposing Kim Soo-hyun’s alleged wrongdoings. Despite Kim Soo-hyun’s legal threats, the channel proceeded without hesitation, claiming to have insider information directly from Kim Sae-ron’s family.
Kim Soo-hyun faced heavy criticism for allegedly ignoring the tragic passing of Kim Sae-ron, his former girlfriend, and was seen partying just six days after her death.
Kim Sae-ron’s family revealed that she struggled with immense financial pressure, including a 700 million KRW debt, while Kim Soo-hyun reportedly purchased luxury properties worth billions.
Leaked messages showed Kim Sae-ron pleading for help, accusing Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, of abandoning her during her struggles. “Oppa, it’s Sae-ron. I received the certification, and they said they are going to sue me. They told me they would give me plenty of time, so I’ve been working hard to prepare for my comeback, and I plan to repay a percentage from each project little by little. I’m not saying I won’t pay, but if you demand 700 million won right now, I really can’t do it. It’s not that I refuse to pay, I just can’t afford it at the moment. But do I really have to go through a lawsuit? Please save me… Please, give me some time.”
Her mother has since spoken out, seeking to restore her daughter’s honor and ensure she is remembered as an actress, not a scandal.
The situation has reignited discussions about accountability and the treatment of young stars in the entertainment industry.
On March 12, Dispatch confirmed the relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron despite the denial from Kim Soo-hyun’s management company. The report also revealed several pieces of evidence regarding Kim Sae-ron’s financial struggles, including her significant debt.
Dispatch wrapped up their article by emphasizing that Kim Sae-ron’s passing was the result of multiple factors, such as the media and YouTubers spreading news, her personal history, and built-up frustrations. However, their main criticism was directed at Gold Medalist, questioning whether the agency truly prioritized the well-being of their actress.