The sudden death of noted Korean actress Kim Sae-ron has shocked her fans and prompted online discussion about celebrities’ treatment by the media and public.
Kim was found dead at her home, a police official with knowledge of the case said on Sunday, Feb. 16. Aged 24, she was one of the country’s most promising actresses, having been acting since her childhood, but her career took hit after a drunk driving incident in 2022.
A friend who was going to meet Kim visited her home and discovered her and called the police, Yonhap News Agency said. Police found no foul play, according to Yonhap, but are still investigating the cause of death.
While celebrating her birthday in July 2022, Kim, driving under the influence, crashed into a number of roadside objects, including a power transformer. Damage to the infrastructure caused dozens of establishments to lose power for several hours.
In online comments, fans noted that while Kim had issued a handwritten apology and personally visited 57 of the stores to compensate them for their lost earnings, she was rapidly purged from the show industry in the years that followed.
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Owing to the payments and the fines Kim incurred in court for her DUI, she took up work at a coffee shop to recoup her income.
Some internet users contrasted the treatment Kim received with that of Korean actors who were accussed or convicted of more severe violations, such as assault, yet were able to continue their careers.
Reuters contributed to this report.
