South Korean actress Kim Sae Ron, who rose to fame as a child star, was found dead in her home in Seoul yesterday (Feb 16). She was 24.
According to Korean media, her body was discovered by a friend who had plans to meet with her.
A police official said there were no signs of forced entry, and they are investigating the cause of death.
Sae Ron made her acting debut at nine and was once known as “Korea’s most beautiful child star”.
She gained popularity after starring alongside Won Bin in 2010 film The Man from Nowhere.
It became the highest-grossing South Korean film that year and landed Sae Ron Best New Actress at the Korean Film Awards.
As she transitioned into her teenage years, Sae Ron took on leading roles in projects like A Girl at My Door (2014) and the television series Secret Healer (2016).
Sae Ron’s rising career came to a sudden halt after a drink driving incident in May 2022. She was fined 20mil won (S$18,580) in April 2023.
She reportedly faced financial difficulties and had to take on part-time jobs, including working at a café, to make ends meet.
Her last project was 2023 drama Bloodhounds however much of her role was edited out of the drama’s second half due to her DUI scandal.
She had planned to make a comeback in theatrical play Dongchimi in 2024, but dropped out eventually, citing health reasons.
Last year, Sae Ron received flak for posting a snap of herself with actor Kim Soo Hyun on Instagram before quickly deleting it.
Rumours swirled that they were dating but his agency denied speculations.
Coincidentally, she passed away on Soo Hyun’s 37th birthday.