Who Was the Late Actress Kim Sae-ron? A Former Child Star Known for Dark, Intense Roles

Kim Sae-ron, who tragically passed away at the age of 24 on February 16, was a former child actress known for her exceptional performances.

Recognized for her talent from a young age, Kim first stepped into the entertainment industry in 2001 as a cover model for Enfant magazine. She officially debuted as an actress in 2009 with the film A Brand New Life, earning the role after surpassing 1,000-to-1 odds in auditions. Despite being just nine years old, her emotionally rich performance left a strong impression.

The film was invited to the Cannes Film Festival’s official selection, making Kim the youngest Korean actress to ever walk the festival’s red carpet.

The following year, she gained mainstream recognition by starring in The Man from Nowhere alongside Won Bin. The action thriller attracted 6.28 million viewers, cementing Kim’s status as a rising star in Korean cinema. With just two films, she became one of Chungmuro’s most promising young actresses.

Her international presence continued to grow as A Girl at My Door earned her another Cannes invitation in 2014. By the age of 15, she had already walked the Cannes red carpet twice.

Beyond acting, Kim expanded her career by serving as an MC for MBC’s Show! Music Core in 2015.

Throughout her career, she often took on challenging and intense roles. In The Neighbors, she played dual roles, demonstrating her acting range. In Barbie, she portrayed a young girl struggling to support her family, tackling a socially relevant narrative. Her role as Kim Seo-hyun in The Queen’s Classroom showcased her ability to embody an elite student, while in Manshin, she convincingly portrayed a young shaman, Kim Geum-hwa. Her performance as a hearing-impaired girl in Manhole was particularly praised for its nuanced depth. She also displayed a lighter side in the KBS drama High School: Love On, where she played a cheerful angel.

However, many of her most memorable roles had dark, heavy themes. Several of her films were rated R due to their intense subject matter. She often played characters trapped in extreme situations involving kidnapping, abuse, and violence. In The Man from Nowhere, she portrayed a girl abducted by a drug cartel and threatened with organ trafficking. In The Neighbors, she played a murder victim, and in Barbie, she was a young girl on the verge of being sold for organ trade. Her ability to convey raw emotion in these roles left a lasting impact on audiences.

Kim's once-promising career came to a standstill after a DUI incident in 2022, just three days before she was set to begin filming for SBS’s Trolley. The controversy led her to step away from the public eye, and her agency did not renew her contract. Though she had filmed scenes for the Netflix drama Bloodhounds before the incident, most of her footage was removed from the final cut.

In April 2023, she attempted a comeback through the play Dongchimi, but backlash forced her to withdraw. In August, she appeared in the music video for E.I Brothers’ Bitter Sweet, signaling her intention to return to entertainment. By November, she had been cast in the film Guitar Man, announcing her official return to acting. Scheduled for release in the first half of 2024, Guitar Man has now become her final work.

According to police, Kim was found unconscious at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, at 4:54 PM on February 16. She was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead. A close acquaintance was the first to discover her. Authorities have ruled out foul play but have not disclosed whether a note was found or provided further details on the cause of death.

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