Remembering Kim Sae-ron

By KTimes

Sometimes, a vivid dream lingers throughout the day. Yesterday, I had a deeply sorrowful dream in which I met and spoke with the late actor Kim Sae-ron. We had crossed paths once in real life, 13 years ago. I still remember the sparkle in her eyes and her pure, cheerful smile when she was just 13 years old.

I described her in my article back then as “an actress with bright, lovely eyes.” I can still picture her making a cute face when the drink she ordered wasn’t to her liking, saying, “It’s way too sweet — it tastes like colored clay,” and sticking out her tongue.

Despite the emotional depth and powerful performances, she showed in films like “A Brand New Life" (2009), “The Man from Nowhere” (2010) and “The Neighbors” (2012), the real Kim Sae-ron was nothing like the somber characters she portrayed. I had expected a shy girl, but she was bubbly, full of curiosity and smiled easily.

In most interviews, the journalist asks the questions — but Kim Sae-ron asked many of her own. She wanted to know my thoughts on her film, what I thought about her acting and even whether I had ever visited certain places we talked about.

At one point, she suddenly said, “I miss my friends,” and her eyes welled up. Her mother, who had accompanied her, whispered, “She loves her friends so much. She always brings them home. When we moved, her friends chased after our car all night.”

Though she had seemed shy at first, she opened up as the conversation continued and began sharing stories about herself. After the interview, her mother smiled and said, “Sae-ron really likes you,” then took a photo of us together.

Later, I saw that photo posted on Kim Sae-ron’s Cyworld page (a popular online social networking site at the time) with a sweet caption. I had admired her as an actor, so I happily saved that image. That would become my final memory of her.

Many child actors struggle during the transition to adult roles, but Kim Sae-ron was finding her footing, taking on diverse genres and characters. Then, in 2022, she was involved in a drunk driving accident and was forced to pause her career.

It was undeniably her mistake. But as a well-known celebrity, the weight of public scrutiny was immense. Faced with hundreds of millions of won in penalties and financial hardship, she attempted a comeback after two years, only to face overwhelming public backlash.

In October, we published an exclusive article featuring photos from her film set. Kim Sae-ron was cast as the lead in the movie “Guitar Man.” She still had the same bright, fresh face and was devoted to her work. Those who worked with her praised her easygoing nature and dedication. True to her affectionate personality, she even gave gifts to the staff on set.

Yet after that article, some netizens left harsh comments: “Are you trying to help a criminal return to the spotlight?” “I never want to see her on screen again, don’t write articles like this.” Even though comment sections have been removed from portal sites, cruel messages continue to flood social media and YouTube.

Then, after her tragic death on Feb. 16, those same users suddenly expressed sorrow, leaving their condolences online. Where were they when they were pushing her down?

Now, a controversy is unfolding over the timeline of her relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun. The family and the actors' side are presenting conflicting claims. Initially, Kim Soo-hyun denied ever dating Kim Sae-ron, but after photos of the two surfaced, he later acknowledged the relationship. We may never know whose version is true, but one day, the truth will be revealed.

Today marks one month since Kim Sae-ron’s passing. I want to remember her simply as an actor who left behind unforgettable performances and films that became milestones in people’s lives.

“I want to be a deep and upright actor, one who sees widely, listens deeply and speaks from the heart.” That’s what Kim Sae-ron once told me.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.