When Kim Sae-ron, a 24-year-old actress, was found dead in her South Korean home in February, she joined the growing list of entertainers in the country who have taken their own lives. However, Sae-ron’s life and tragic death have garnered significant media attention due to her past relationship with a prominent older male superstar, Kim Soo-hyun, a 37-year-old one of South Korea’s most well-known actors.

The story of their relationship is filled with dramatic allegations reminiscent of a K-drama: A child prodigy actor enters a romantic relationship with a man 13 years her senior. Soon after the couple breaks up, the actress gets into a drunk-driving incident, which tarnishes her career and results in financial difficulties, while the actor becomes one of the country’s richest stars. In an attempt to revive her career, she stages a comeback but ultimately takes her own life.

Additional allegations have surfaced since Sae-ron’s death, with her family claiming that Soo-hyun began dating her when she was a minor. According to them, after their breakup, a talent agency founded by Soo-hyun pressured Sae-ron over a debt she struggled to repay. Soo-hyun denies these accusations and has filed a defamation lawsuit against Sae-ron’s family.

The scandal has already started to damage Soo-hyun’s career and has shed light on the potential risks and severe scrutiny celebrities in South Korea face. The personal lives of these entertainers are often subject to aggressive and sometimes malicious online rumors, which can lead to ruined careers or even suicide.

Bae Kwang-nam, an author who has written several books about the South Korean entertainment industry, explains that the pressure placed on entertainers is due to the high standards they are expected to uphold. Combined with the sensationalism of influencers and YouTubers, this culture has created a deadly trap for many.

Sae-ron’s struggles with the online backlash she faced after a drunk-driving incident in 2022 left her feeling financially and emotionally devastated. Although she left Soo-hyun’s talent agency, Gold Medalist, after the incident, she still owed a debt related to unfulfilled contracts with production companies and advertisers.

Many South Korean entertainers lack the risk management training needed to deal with crises, leading to financial devastation when scandals occur. Professor Jeongseob Kim explains that celebrities reach great heights but often fail to recognize the potential for deep valleys when facing problems.

The details of Sae-ron and Soo-hyun’s relationship became public when Sae-ron posted an older photo of them on Instagram. Soo-hyun denied the relationship at first. However, following pressure from Sae-ron’s family, he admitted to dating her for a year after she became an adult. Her lawyers insisted that their romance lasted for six years, starting in 2015.

Soo-hyun has now become the subject of significant backlash and has lost several brand endorsements. He fears that this scandal could jeopardize various projects he has been involved in, including a Disney+ show.

Professor Kim said that it would be challenging for Soo-hyun to maintain his current status in the industry, as the system rarely offers second chances.

If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to speak with someone at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. In South Korea, call 109 to reach the Health Ministry’s suicide prevention hotline or visit 129.go.kr/109 for the Korean-language site.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/world/asia/kim-sae-ron-suicide-soo-hyun.html