Some say Kim Sae Ron ruined her career herself, but if we put ourselves in her shoes, it’s hard to say whether anyone could have survived the tragic beginnings of her life.

At the age of 11, Kim Sae Ron starred in the heavy and haunting film Barbie. Her character, Soon Young, had to care for her mentally ill father, her sickly little sister, and her irresponsible uncle. Despite her young age, Soon Young became the breadwinner of the family, doing everything to support them.

Many people wondered after watching the movie: “How could such a young child perform so well?” But it turns out that the suffering depicted in the film was nothing compared to the reality Kim Sae Ron had to endure.

1. A Childhood Full of Pain

Kim Sae Ron grew up in an incomplete family after her parents divorced early. Her mother raised three daughters on her own in a financially unstable environment and suffered from severe depression.

In moments of despair, her mother even considered taking her children and jumping off a building, but Sae Ron—still very young—clung to the railing and begged, helping her mother overcome the negative thoughts. However, this traumatic memory left a deep psychological scar on the actress.

To support her family, Sae Ron began acting before turning 10, without connections or support. She took on heavy roles that other child actors rejected.

Thanks to her exceptional talent, she quickly rose to fame with the film The Man from Nowhere (2010), becoming one of the leading child stars in South Korea alongside Kim So Hyun and Kim Yoo Jung.

Her continuous success led to awards at prestigious ceremonies such as the Golden Bell, Blue Dragon, and Baeksang, but behind the glory was a relentless work schedule to support her family.

Despite her fame, Sae Ron was a victim of school bullying. She was isolated by her peers, had her shoes hidden, was intentionally invited to parties only to be abandoned, and even faced verbal abuse in playgrounds. Unable to bear the pressure, she decided to homeschool rather than continue high school.

However, social media was not kind to her either, with people mocking her appearance and making unreasonable attacks. The long-lasting psychological trauma, financial pressures, and the harshness of public opinion pushed her life into a corner.

2. The Last Three Years of Pain

On January 17, TV Daily quoted someone close to the late actress, revealing that she had suffered from severe depression for a long time. The person shared, “Sae Ron had very serious depression, which made those around her extremely worried. However, she had a strong will to return to her artistic career and actively sought treatment. But public opinion remained harsh, and the emotional wounds were not easy to heal. We felt helpless because we couldn’t publicly express how much Sae Ron was suffering.”

Previously, in May 2022, Kim Sae Ron caused a serious car accident while driving under the influence of alcohol in the Hakdong area of Gangnam, Seoul. She crashed into a tree and a transformer, causing power outages in several nearby shops. Her blood alcohol level was 0.2%, far exceeding the legal limit (0.08%). As a result, she was fined 20 million won by the court.

The actress tried to return to the Dongchimi theater stage but had to withdraw due to negative public reactions. When she posted behind-the-scenes photos from the films Hunting Dogs and Kiss Six Sense on social media, the criticism flared up again, forcing her to delete the posts. In November 2023, it was announced that she had completed filming for Guitar Man and was preparing for a comeback.

3. Tragedy Strikes Kim Sae Ron After the Drunk Driving Incident

According to various sources, Kim Sae Ron faced financial difficulties. In addition to the fine from the accident, she had to compensate the shop owners, pay for the repair of the transformer, and cover the penalties for breaking her contract with her agency.

The incident became a major shock to Kim Sae Ron’s career. The image of the talented child star was now tied to the label “drunk driving.” Public opinion turned against her, brands canceled contracts, and film projects removed her from their cast. Despite numerous apologies from Kim Sae Ron, nothing worked. Everything she had worked hard to build over more than a decade crumbled in an instant.

To make ends meet, the actress worked at a café in the Yaksu-dong area of Seoul. According to someone close to her, she worked from morning until evening. Additionally, Kim Sae Ron taught acting to young actors for extra income. Despite her efforts, she still couldn’t manage the huge compensation fees.

While working part-time, she was mocked for “showing off and acting like she’s suffering.” When she wanted to return to showbiz, she was criticized for “not being remorseful enough.” When she revealed her financial struggles, she was ridiculed with comments like, “Artists can’t be poor.” No matter how hard Sae Ron tried, she couldn’t change public perception. With no opportunity for a comeback, no way out, dwindling finances, and an uncertain future, the actress endured immense suffering.

4. Her depression worsened as she faced the crushing pressure from public opinion.

Regarding her personal life, Sae Ron never publicly confirmed having a boyfriend. However, last year, she caused a stir when she posted and then quickly deleted a photo with Kim Soo Hyun. The post quickly sparked rumors of a romance, but the actor’s side denied it. Later, Kim Sae Ron was harshly criticized by Kim Soo Hyun’s fans.

After losing all her work, Kim Sae Ron became isolated, cutting off contact with nearly everyone in the entertainment industry except for her family and a few close friends.

On February 16, Kim Sae Ron was found at her home, having passed away at the age of 25. Her sudden death shocked the South Korean entertainment world.

From being a talented child star, Kim Sae Ron had everything—career, fame, money. But it was the entertainment industry and public opinion that pushed her into a dead end. Many say her mistakes are undeniable, but does Sae Ron deserve to have everything stripped away from her, to be ruthlessly crushed to the point of having no way back?