Following the tragic death of actress Kim Sae Ron, new details have emerged about her financial hardships leading up to her passing. Amid ongoing rumors linking her romantically to Kim Soo Hyun, the spotlight has shifted to the emotional and monetary struggles she reportedly faced, prompting intense public attention and speculation.
Over the past two months, the South Korean media has been abuzz with speculation surrounding Kim Soo Hyun’s alleged past relationship with Kim Sae Ron. Leaked photos and videos from their rumored dating period have further fueled controversy, resulting in fresh allegations and renewed public scrutiny of both stars.
The fallout from the dating scandal has had a serious impact on Kim Soo Hyun’s career. His highly anticipated Disney+ drama, Knock Off, in which he stars opposite Jo Bo Ah, has experienced significant delays. Although the show was originally slated for a 2025 release, production has been stalled due to the controversy, with Disney+ refraining from commenting on a revised launch date.
During a Disney+ promotional event, company officials maintained their silence when questioned about the fate of Knock Off. Choi Yeon-Woo, the Head of Local Content, confirmed that the decision to delay the release came after an internal review, and no updates had been provided since. The platform has not clarified whether penalties will be imposed on Kim Soo Hyun due to the disruptions.
Meanwhile, reports have surfaced indicating that Kim Sae Ron had borrowed significant sums from fellow celebrities as she faced mounting financial pressures. Sources say she was in deep distress and even shared a desperate message through her private Instagram account, asking her followers to share her message in the event of her death.
In her emotional post, she claimed to have been abandoned during her toughest moments and expressed bitterness toward those who failed to support her. Although she had been tested for alcohol after a DUI incident, she claimed the results were misleading and insisted she had taken full responsibility for the damages.
It is reported that two of her close friends, upon seeing her message, rushed to her home to prevent any self-harm. Further accounts revealed that Sae Ron was working continuously after her DUI to earn money. She had borrowed around ₩100 million KRW each from two idol group members, and another singer confirmed lending her over ₩20 million KRW in total, some of which was sent directly to her family.
These revelations have sparked outrage and questions about her family’s role in managing her finances. Online users are demanding accountability from her parents, questioning where the borrowed money went and whether enough was done to support her emotionally and financially during her final days. The situation continues to draw emotional reactions from fans and industry insiders alike.