Amid the ongoing public scrutiny surrounding the February 2025 death of actress Kim Sae-ron, new details have emerged highlighting the severe financial distress she endured in her final months. Reports reveal she owed hundreds of millions of won to acquaintances in the entertainment industry, amplifying public sympathy and concern over the pressures she faced behind the scenes. These revelations have added further weight to the tragic narrative that has dominated headlines since her passing.
A particularly heartbreaking detail surfaced from a private social media post she made on September 8, 2024, roughly five months before her death. In this message, shared only with close friends, Kim expressed emotional turmoil and referenced individuals who had either helped or abandoned her. She ended the post with a chilling line suggesting a desire for peace through finality. Two friends who saw the post quickly intervened by rushing to her home in Seoul, averting a possible tragedy at that time.
In her effort to make ends meet, Kim reportedly worked multiple jobs—including acting coaching, cafes, and even bars. Despite these efforts, financial stability remained elusive. According to SBS Entertainment News, she borrowed approximately 100 million won each from two idol group members and a singer-actor after the fallout from her May 2022 drunk driving incident. A separate singer also confirmed lending her smaller sums on two occasions between late 2023 and mid-2024.
Further financial obligations included a 50 million won loan for a rental deposit from a business associate and about 60 million won owed to Run Entertainment, her agency until early 2024, to cover medical expenses. These debts were allegedly settled when her contract expired. Moreover, her former agency, Gold Medalist, had absorbed a massive 700 million won penalty on her behalf after she was dropped from the Netflix drama Bloodhounds due to her DUI controversy.
Even months after her death, controversy persists—not only about the financial aspects but also over the deeper circumstances of her passing and alleged past relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun. Gold Medalist eventually wrote off the ₩700 million loss in 2023. Meanwhile, public discussion remains heated regarding accountability, the pressures of fame, and the industry’s treatment of struggling celebrities.
The situation intensified when Kim Sae-ron’s family filed a complaint against Kim Soo-hyun on May 7, 2025, accusing him of violating the Child Welfare Act. This was in response to his legal team’s earlier lawsuits targeting YouTube channel Garosero and Kim Sae-ron’s family for defamation and related charges. As both sides engage in a legal and moral battle, the tragedy surrounding Kim Sae-ron continues to provoke national debate about celebrity culture, mental health, and the hidden struggles behind fame.