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| ▲ The portrait and memorial tablet of actress Kim Sae-ron are being moved to the hearse during the funeral ceremony at the funeral hall of Seoul Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Feb. 19, 2025, in this press pool photo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- Actress Kim Sae-ron, who passed away at the age of 25, was laid to rest on Wednesday as family and friends bid their final farewells.
The funeral service took place that morning at the Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Close friends, including actress Kim Bo-ra and AB6IX's Park Woo-jin, attended to accompany Kim on her final journey.
Kim was found deceased at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on Sunday afternoon.
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| ▲ This undated Yonhap file photo shows late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron. (Yonhap) |
Following the news of her passing, many visited the funeral hall to pay their respects, including actor Won Bin, who starred alongside her in The Man from Nowhere, as well as Han So-hee, AKMU’s Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Su-hyun, and broadcaster Jang Sung-kyu.
Tributes from fellow celebrities also poured in online. Kim Ok-bin, Seo Ye-ji, Jun Hyo-sung, Hong Seok-cheon, and Lee Jong-hyuk shared photos of white chrysanthemums on social media in remembrance.
Kim Sae-ron began her entertainment career as a child model for Enfant magazine in 2001 and made her acting debut in the 2009 film A Brand New Life.
As director Lee Chang-dong’s Korea-France co-production A Brand New Life was invited to the Cannes Film Festival, Kim became the youngest Korean actor to walk the Cannes red carpet. She later gained recognition as a "genius child actor" for her emotionally profound performances in films such as The Man from Nowhere and A Girl at My Door.
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| ▲ This Yonhap file photo shows late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron (L) and actor Won Bin |
However, her career came to a halt in May 2022 after a drunk driving accident. She withdrew from the drama Trolley, and her scenes in the Netflix series Bloodhounds, which had already been mostly filmed, were edited out.
Kim had planned to return to acting after two years through the play Dongchimi, but after controversy arose over her comeback, she withdrew within a day, citing health issues. Her final film, Guitar Man, is set for release.
Kim’s untimely death has sparked reflection on the excessive online hate comments and sensational media coverage that may have driven her to despair.
Kwon Young-chan, director of the Korea Celebrity Suicide Prevention Association, visited the funeral hall on the 17th and spoke with Kim’s father about how invasive YouTube videos exposing her personal life had placed a significant emotional burden on her. He stated, “We plan to provide support through legal actions such as filing complaints and seeking mediation through the Press Arbitration Commission.”
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