Late Kim Sae-ron’s Lost Fortune: Why the Former Child Star Had No Money Left

The late actress Kim Sae-ron’s financial hardships have become a hot topic among netizens, with many questioning how she ended up in such dire circumstances.

Kim’s downfall began in May 2022 after she was caught driving under the influence and causing an accident without taking proper measures. The consequences were severe—she faced compensation claims and contract penalties estimated to range from several hundred million to several billion KRW. In an effort to cover these costs, Kim had to take on part-time jobs. She reportedly worked at a café in Seoul, spending long hours from morning until dusk. She also gave acting lessons to aspiring actors to make ends meet. A close acquaintance revealed in an interview that Kim suffered from severe depression due to financial distress.

Was Kim Sae-ron truly struggling financially? The answer seems to be yes. In March 2023, attorney Min Ki-ho, who represented her during the trial, told Asia Economy that “her car was her only asset.”

At the time, Min confirmed that Kim was indeed working part-time to survive. “The penalty fees from the accident were substantial, leaving her with a significant debt burden,” he explained.

Min further revealed that Kim’s income had been spent on supporting her family, including her parents’ business and household expenses. “She has no choice but to sustain herself through part-time jobs, and she’s also struggling to figure out how to repay the debt owed to her former agency,” he added.

He clarified that even the apartment featured on a variety show was not owned by Kim but was rented under her agency’s name. “She had no financial resources, so the agency had to use her rental deposit to compensate local shop owners and other victims,” he said. “Even that wasn’t enough to cover the full amount, so the agency had to step in and pay the rest on her behalf. Kim is now responsible for repaying that sum.”

So how much did she owe? Factoring in compensation for the accident and penalty fees for projects she had already signed onto, the total amount was estimated to be anywhere from several hundred million to several billion KRW.

During her first trial, Kim’s lawyer pleaded for leniency, stating that she had been the sole breadwinner for her family. “After paying off the damages, Kim Sae-ron is facing extreme financial difficulties. Not only she, but her entire family is struggling,” he said.