On February 16, 2025, the Korean entertainment sector was hit with devastating news when actress Kim Sae Ron, just 24 years old, died a tragic death. With her incredible talent and powerful presence, Kim’s untimely death has left her co-workers, family, and friends in profound sorrow. Several of her colleagues, many of whom had worked closely with her, attended her funeral in Seoul to honor her memory.
Tributes from Industry Veterans
Lee Jeong Byeom, a director with whom Kim Sae Ron collaborated in the 2010 action thriller The Man from Nowhere, was among the bereaved. Lee, visibly shaken by her premature death, spoke out in his grief. The director looked back at his own relationship with Kim, comparing her to a daughter figure since they worked together. Only 10 or 11 years old at the time, Kim impressed as a talented acting prodigy and was called “a genius” child actress. Lee remembered that she was so mature in acting out the characters’ emotions beyond her years.
The “Mature Beyond Her Years” Actress
Lee Jeong Byeom pointed out Kim’s capacity to bring about real emotion without the overacting prevalent among most child actors. He stressed that even at this young age, she was mature and had a grasp of her roles, tending to make it seem like he was working with an adult actress. He also mentioned her sensitivity to other people’s emotions, calling her someone who really understood the people around her.
Remembering Kim for Her Passion
In his emotional tribute, Lee expressed a desire for Kim to be remembered for her vibrant passion for acting and the joy she brought to the set.
He hoped that people would remember her as an actress who loved her craft and brought laughter to those she worked with, rather than as someone who faced struggles in her personal life. Kim Sae Ron’s loss is a profound tragedy, but her legacy as a bright and gifted actress will live on.
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