ENTERTAINMENT
Tragic Loss: Actress Kim Sae-ron's Final Film 'Guitar Man' Set for Release
According to the film industry on the 17th, Kim Sae-ron's last work, 'Guitar Man' (directed by Lee Sun-jung), began filming in October last year and wrapped up in November. The film is set to be released this year. It tells the story of a genius guitarist who joins an indie band and the events that unfold.
Film industry insiders reported that Kim Sae-ron was preparing for a comeback after completing 'Guitar Man.'
Particularly, Lee Sun-jung, the director and lead actor of 'Guitar Man,' shared in an interview with a media outlet about Kim Sae-ron, saying, "She was bright and cheerful during filming. She always smiled and was playful. However, when she was alone, she seemed dark and troubled, which concerned me."
On the 16th, according to the Seongdong Police Station, Kim Sae-ron was found deceased at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, at 4:54 PM. A friend who was supposed to meet her that day visited her home and discovered her, subsequently reporting it to the police.
The police stated, "So far, there are no signs of external intrusion or criminal activity," adding that "the cause of death is under investigation." It is reported that no suicide note was found at the scene.
Kim Sae-ron began gaining recognition as a child model for the magazine 'Enfant' in 2001. She started her acting career with the 2009 film 'A Brand New Life' and rose to fame with the 2010 film 'The Man from Nowhere' starring Won Bin.
She continued to establish her career with appearances in films like 'The Neighbors,' 'Manhole,' 'A Girl at My Door,' and TV dramas such as SBS's 'Fashion King' and MBC's 'The Queen's Classroom.' She also starred in JTBC's fusion historical drama 'Mirror of the Witch' and KakaoTV's 'The Great Shaman Ga Doo-shim.'
Kim Sae-ron's promising career faced a setback in 2022 when she was involved in a drunk driving accident, crashing into a guardrail and a transformer. As a result, she was fined 20 million won in 2023. Although she appeared in the Netflix series 'Bloodhounds,' most of her scenes were edited out due to the incident.
Following the accident, Kim Sae-ron temporarily halted her acting activities. She attempted to resume her career with the play 'Dongchimi' in April last year but withdrew due to public criticism and health reasons.
In July last year, it was reported that Kim Sae-ron was working at a café in Seoul, with plans to open her own café.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to a professional for help. You can contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741 for 24/7 support.
Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr
