Kim Sae Ron allegedly accrued debts exceeding $486K before death at 25

South Korean actress Kim Sae Ron. Photo from Kim's Instagram

According to Sports Chosun, the debt originated from an incident on May 18, 2022, when Kim, under the influence, crashed her vehicle into a guardrail and transformer, causing extensive damage. This accident led to a broken transformer and resulted in power outages that affected 57 nearby stores.

The Korea Times noted that Kim was fined 20 million won and had to compensate the affected stores. Gold Medalist had advanced her the funds needed to pay for these damages and fines. However, post-accident, the agency chose not to renew her contract, and she lost all her advertising and film contracts, including a role in the anticipated Netflix series "Bloodhounds."

The incident severely impacted her public image and complicated her return to the entertainment industry, making it difficult for her to fulfill her financial commitments.

In an effort to manage her debts, Kim reportedly sought part-time work, including managing a café and mentoring aspiring actors, though these were insufficient to cover her substantial debt. Despite these challenges, Kim expressed her determination to settle her debts and requested additional time to meet her financial obligations.

Kim was found deceased at her home in Seoul, South Korea, by a friend on Feb. 16, with police initially finding no signs of foul play. Her funeral was held on Wednesday.