South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron’s death at 24 has sparked outrage and calls for change in how celebrities are treated on social media. The 24-year-old, who rose to fame as a child actress, was found dead by a friend after a life-long battle with harsh online criticism.
Kim struggled to find work after a 2022 drunk driving incident, where she faced severe public backlash despite earning praise for her roles in films like “The Man from Nowhere” and “A Brand New Life”. Online posts were notoriously harsh towards celebrities who made mistakes, especially women, and Kim’s personal struggles were constantly scrutinized by the media.
Critics say the country’s media outlets are part of the problem, sensationalizing news to get clicks while exploiting celebrities’ past struggles for attention. The Citizens’ Coalition for Democratic Media called out newspapers and websites for blaming social media without acknowledging their own role in perpetuating a “harsh, zero-tolerance” culture.
Kim began her acting career at 9, starring in “A Brand New Life”, and rose to stardom with “The Man from Nowhere”. Her death has sparked editorials and opinion pieces condemning the toxic online comments about celebrities. Some have called for a change in how South Korea’s media treats its stars, citing the deaths of other K-Pop singers and actors as examples.
Despite her struggles, Kim earned domestic acting awards and recognition for her roles. However, the relentless online criticism took a toll on her mental health, ultimately leading to her tragic demise at 24.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-actor-death-kim-sae-ron-a2ce58f4d63b423afb328709027429ba