New reports reveal late actress Kim Sae-Ron faced severe financial struggles after her 2022 drunk driving incident. She allegedly borrowed money from seven Korean celebrities, including idols and actors, to cover expenses.
Kim Sae-Ron passed away on February 16, 2025. Before her death, she reportedly worked multiple part-time jobs and relied on loans from friends in the entertainment industry. Her financial troubles began after a DUI crash in May 2022 damaged her career.
On September 8, 2024, she posted a private message on social media. It said, “When I die, capture this post and upload it… Those who left me when I was having the hardest time. Think about what you received from me. I won’t suffer anymore.” Two friends rushed to her home after seeing the post.
According to SBS News, three celebrities—two K-pop idols and one singer—each lent her 100 million KRW (about $74,000). Actor ‘A’ and singer-actor ‘B’ also helped financially. Singer ‘C’ gave her 12 million KRW in 2023 and sent 8 million KRW to her family in May 2024.
Kim Sae-Ron borrowed 50 million KRW from a businessman for housing. Her former agency, Gold Medalist, paid 60 million KRW for her medical bills. They also covered a 700 million KRW penalty fee when she left the Netflix show Bloodhounds after the DUI. She repaid this amount by December 2023.
The DUI crash happened in Seoul on May 15, 2022. Her blood alcohol level was 0.2%, twice the legal limit. She hit a power transformer, causing outages for 57 businesses. She apologized publicly but lost acting roles and agency support.
After the crash, she left her drama Trolley and her agency. She stayed off Instagram for a year before returning in 2023. Friends say she worked in cafes, flower shops, and bars to survive. Legal issues continued after her death, including false rumors about her past relationships.
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