Fans say what Kim faced was 'excessively severe compared to her wrongdoing'
Fans and celebrities are mourning the death of actor Kim Sae-ron, 24, who was found dead at her home in Seoul on Sunday.
The Women Celebrities Gallery (translated), an online community dedicated to Korean female celebrities, released a statement on Sunday night mourning her passing and condemning the harsh public criticism she faced.
"We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the tragic news of Kim Sae-ron's passing. We are fans that have loved and supported Kim, and we wish for her to rest in peace and hope to accompany her on her final journey," the statement read.
The statement highlighted Kim's exceptional passion and talent for acting from a young age, acknowledging that her path was never easy. It also noted that she admitted her mistakes and reflected on them.
"Despite the harsh standards and coldness of the public that were excessively severe compared to her wrongdoing, she endured it all," the statement continued.
"There needs to be a reflection to prevent such tragic events from recurring. Criticisms that have no proof, mockery and malicious comments can ruin a person's life entirely. We hope that this incident serves as an opportunity for our society to look at all people with more warmth and compassion," the statement said.
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Fellow actors have expressed their condolences. Actor Kim Ok-vin, known for her roles in "Thirst" and "The Villainess," posted a white chrysanthemum on Instagram with the message, “May the deceased rest in peace.” Though she did not mention Kim by name, the post is being interpreted as a tribute.
Actor Kim Min-che, who starred alongside Kim in the 2018 film "The Villagers," shared on her social media, “Meeting you as my daughter in 'The Villagers' was such a happy time. I hope you find peace there.” Actor Seo Ha-joon also paid tribute online.
Police said Kim's body was found by a friend at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, at around 4:50 p.m. Sunday. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of her death.
Born in 2000, Kim debuted in 2009, gaining fame as a promising child actor with her role in the hit crime flick, "The Man from Nowhere" (2010).
Kim paused her career after a drunk driving incident in May 2022, for which she was fined 20 million won ($13,850) in April 2023.
She recently announced a return to acting through the play "Dongchimi" but withdrew due to health issues. Ongoing controversies, including allegedly self-generated dating rumors with actor Kim Soo-hyun, continued to follow her.
Kim had previously expressed her emotional struggles on social media, posting messages such as "It's already so hard, can you all just stop?" last year.
Kim's last social media post, uploaded Jan. 26, was a picture of her with Moon Bin of the K-pop group Astro, congratulating his birthday. Moon Bin was found dead in his home in 2023.
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