“Whatever explanation I gave, it wouldn’t have been seen or heard.” This is a post Kim Sae-ron wrote on her mini homepage in February 2014, when she was 15 by Korean age.
“Malicious commenters will type on their keyboards to drive and attack until the end, only then will they shift their attention elsewhere,” she posted. She was explaining about the false rumors spread by someone who uploaded a photo with her on an internet site, claiming she drank and smoked.
Kim Sae-ron lamented, “If I’ve lived rightly until now, those who want to believe will believe me, and those who don’t know me and are envious and jealous won’t listen to good words or truths.” And 11 years have passed.
Kim Sae-ron has passed away.
Kim Sae-ron was found dead in her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 16th.
She was only 25 years old.
When Kim Sae-ron was invited to the Cannes Film Festival with her debut film ‘Traveler’ in 2009, it seemed there was no connection.
Back then, when articles used international age, she was invited to Cannes at 8 years old by international age, 9 by Korean age, setting the record for the youngest invitation for a Korean actor.
The memory of receiving a photo of the 9-year-old Kim Sae-ron smiling at Cannes is vivid.
Five years later, I met Kim Sae-ron in person at Cannes when invited with ‘A Girl at My Door’.
‘A Girl at My Door’ was rated as not suitable for teenagers, so she couldn’t watch the film there but entered the theater to greet the audience after the screening.
As applause poured like a waterfall, the 15-year-old girl cried her heart out. ‘A Girl at My Door’ is a film about a girl suffering from her stepfather’s violence in a remote rural village who relies on a police chief transferred there due to personal reasons.
Bae Doo-na, Kim Sae-ron, and Song Sae-byeok starred in it.
Kim Sae-ron played Do-hee, who was constantly abused by her stepfather. Watching ‘A Girl at My Door’ at Cannes made me cry.
It wasn’t sad.
Nor was it particularly moving.
The father’s violence against his child, the exploitation and violence against migrant workers, and the prejudice against sexual minorities didn’t feel unfamiliar.
However, the scene at the movie’s end, showing Bae Doo-na as the police chief and Kim Sae-ron being hit by her father, brought tears to my eyes. At that time, I wondered why that happened.
Perhaps I wanted to protect Kim Sae-ron in the movie.
Probably because I thought I shouldn’t become a cowardly adult like the choice in the film.
That year was the year of the Sewol Ferry incident.
Although many Korean films were invited to Cannes, out of caution, some actors didn’t attend or wore yellow ribbons on their chests.
Many people at that time resolved to act true to their responsibilities and become adults who weren’t ashamed.
- ‘Deceased’ Kim Sae-ron, Had Changed Name for ‘New Start’
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- Effectively killed by the journalist scumbags
- Dukoo, receiving scum from “Lee Seon-myeong” bastard, do you feel comfortable now? You beat Kim Sae-ron to death, scumbag.
- Should’ve just stayed quiet for a few years, why play the hardship card?
- I won’t forgive drunk driving offenders, whether they are civilians, politicians, or entertainers.
- Looked at the Naver comments on the obituary article, it was shocking. When the drunk driving incident occurred, they said things like “die, what are you doing, why live, did you kill him,” and then quickly flipped when the obituary came out lol.
- Those who only wrote obituaries and the journalist scumbags were the ones who killed him + even those who were harsh on him are stepping back now. They’re murderers.
- If netizens target you once, unless you have strong mental strength, it’s life-ending. I wondered if it was right to bring up personal SNS photos to ridicule, and it eventually turned out like this.
- These journalist scumbags buried someone, they are not humans.
- Search ‘Death Kim Bok-nam’ on Femco. Incident under registration.
- Suicide is very unfortunate, but if it’s for reasons caused by one’s own actions… Please don’t drink and drive, no matter rich or poor.
- Actor Kim Sae-ron Passes Away, Planned a Comeback After Name Change…Entertainment Shocked
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- Even a presidential candidate with five drunk driving records can do it, why die.
- Someone is making 200 million won a year pretending to be president, shamelessly living even fake-attending work, should’ve held on a bit longer…
- Gone.
- Even civil war dog is living on… Stay strong and overcome ㅠㅠ
- Was it suicide? Or drugs?
- I’ve felt this way for a long time, but Koreans really have a filthy mouth on the internet. Even on Reddit comments, they say Korean netizens are filthy and ask if they learned nothing from the Sulli incident. It’s truly embarrassing for other countries to see.
- Kim Ah-im? I’m a dead body~
- Did a bunch of haters, internet warriors, conservative right-wingers, male scumbags kill him? Why ask “why die” now ㅉㅉ Worst generation in human history, the right-wing conservative males ㅉㅉ
- You said hold on, but you bullied him until he committed suicide lol, the mentality of haters isn’t human. Is it psychopathy?
- The comments are truly disgusting.
- Kim Sae-ron’s Emotional Final Photo on SNS…Tribute to Late Moonbin Re-evaluated
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- Kim Sae-ron, may you be happy there, death sentence for Moon Jae-in who exacerbated perversion
- When asked to reflect on drunk driving, commits suicide ㄷㄷ
- As soon as there’s a corpse, beautification begins… No matter how you sugarcoat it, a potential murderer.
- Did they think dying would save them from all suffering…
- Kanye, ‘Grammy Nude Dress’ Divorce from Censor after 11 Days
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- Handle women like Kanye
- Both the one wearing it because told to and the one making her wear it are not in their right minds.
- Send him to a mental institution, seriously.
- Liberal arts students should all be gathered and cigarette ashes thrown at them lol
- Walking around with a wife completely undressed, is that sane? Would die of shame.
- Kanye’s eyes these days look like a subway line 1 freak, unlike during his debut.
- Made his wife into a global celebrity and dumped her lol.
- 70 billion won for one nude session? Isn’t that bliss?
- They married for money, so they achieved their goal early, right?
- God Ye
- “Same-Sex Kiss, Smoking at Club”…Hyeri’s Shocking Transformation is a Hot Topic
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- Nearing 40, yet a high school girl?
- Shocking topic – 0 comments –
- Gross
- Why do everything, it’s pathetic, pathetic.
- Having a tough time making a living?
- If I see nipples or top/bottom set lace lingerie in white, pink, cocoa, cream colors, would acknowledge as adult content. Unless there’s visibly tongue rolling seen in kiss scenes.
- Lick lol
- Men with men is good but women with women is gross.
- Trash chasing only shock value. Make a normal drama. Don’t add this kind of trashy lesbian gay elements.
- Honestly, it’s exciting. Thinking I’m Hyeri’s counterpart made me lose control.
- Irene, Surprise Reveal of Groom-to-be…“forever Valentine”
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- Entertainers always meet businessmen ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
In that year, many Koreans who watched ‘A Girl at My Door’ would have wanted to protect Do-hee, and Kim Sae-ron.
11 years have passed.
Can’t shake the thought that the world is regressing.
Even if Kim Sae-ron posted what she did on her mini homepage 11 years ago today, would it have made a big difference?
No, things seem far more violent these days.
With all the beating with the stick of justice and then moving on to the next target, it seems the behavior has worsened.
Although a whole decade has passed since the Sewol Ferry incident, the world seems crueler.
Think about the second chance.
Criticism of celebrities involved in drunk driving, gambling, drugs, etc., seems natural.
As much as celebrities have significant social influence. But I think it’s time to consider whether we should never give a second chance to celebrities who genuinely apologize, deeply reflect, and are discreet.
The social atmosphere of denying a second chance to celebrities inevitably applies to non-celebrities as well.
It signals that society can become more severe about giving second chances.
Some might say why not have another job, but for celebrities, being an entertainer is both a profession and identity.
Also, the method of as long as I don’t see it is not a solution that everyone can agree on.
Of course, it’s a sensitive issue.
When there’s a victim, especially when the victim hasn’t forgiven, it becomes even more difficult.
Nonetheless, it’s time to think about giving a second chance.
Robert Downey Jr. got involved with drugs and even went to prison.
His filmography flourished after he got out of prison.
Saying it’s possible because it’s Hollywood means we’ll never have a Robert Downey Jr. of our own. I hope many who mourn for Kim Sae-ron will take this opportunity to think about second chances.
May the deceased rest in peace.
Jung Hyun-hwa, reporter brofire@edaily.co.kr