Kim Sae-ron’s Death Calls Korean Culture Into Question
The recent suicide of South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron on February 16, 2025 has caused a lot of discussion about Korean celebrity culture, and Korean culture as a whole.
Born on July 31, 2000 in Seoul, Kim was known for movies such as A Brand New Life (2009) and The Man from Nowhere (2010). In 2022, Kim was charged with drunk driving and received intense amounts of public scrutiny. Kim particularly dealt with a lot of criticism on social media. This included YouTube videos exposing her private life.
Kim had trouble finding work, even working at a Cafe just to make ends meet. Kim’s agency, Gold Medalist, had eventually confirmed this. Kim later quit after a short period.
Kim’s father has stated there were plans for legal action against the Press Arbitration Commission due to all of this. The Associated Press reports that there have been calls for change in Korean culture due to the standards people face daily.
Kim’s death, being the latest in a series of major South Korean celebrities, makes this anything but an isolated incident. Celebrities such as singers Sulli and Moonbin and actors such as Lee Sun-kyun have also taken their own lives.
South Korea has the fourth highest suicide rate in the world behind Lesotho, Guyana, and Eswatini, and eighth highest male rate behind Kiribati, Lithuania, Russia, and the Federated States of Micronesia. South Korea has the third highest female rate behind Lesotho and Guyana. Among the developed world per World Population Review, South Korea has the highest besides male rate behind only Lithuania and Russia. Additionally, according to the Korean Biomedical Review, suicide was the number one cause of death among South Korean people aged 10 to 39 in 2021.
It is highly suspected that the culture in general is to blame, which is one of high standards. According to a Time interview from June 12, 2024 one person stated, “We have created a climate where people are made to think they have two choices: live with the pain or die.”
In that same article titled “‘Absolutely Insufficient’: How Data Restrictions and Funding Constraints Hamper South Korea’s Suicide Prevention Efforts,” mental healthcare is severely underfunded. One center even said they needed 200 Billion Won (which is just under $137MM), but only got 800 Million (about $548.3K), which is 0.4% of what they need.
The economy has also found itself in a bad place. According to a November 2020 report, 40% of College graduates gave up searching for jobs. Between Social Media, standards, and the economy, it’s safe to say that there is a major crisis and change must occur.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts about suicide, call the US National Suicide prevention line: 1-800-273-8255,
