The death of actress Kim Se-ron, believed to have died by suicide, has once again sparked criticism of South Korea’s entertainment industry, which routinely produces celebrities while subjecting them to intense pressure and public scrutiny.
Kim, who was 24 when she was found dead at her home in Seoul on Sunday, February 16, 2025, had faced overwhelming media coverage and online hate speech after being convicted of drunk driving in 2022. Authorities have not provided further details about her death.
Experts find the circumstances surrounding the incident unsettlingly familiar. Numerous celebrities have taken their own lives after their careers were disrupted by cyberbullying.
As Kim was laid to rest on Wednesday, February 19, analysts expressed doubts that her death would bring about any meaningful change.
South Korea’s entertainment industry has enjoyed immense global popularity, with an estimated 220 million fans worldwide—more than four times the country’s population.
However, there is growing concern about the darker side of this industry.
South Korea’s culture, which influences everything from education to career advancement, is fiercely competitive. The country has one of the highest suicide rates among developed nations.
For celebrities, the pressure is even more intense. They are subject to the demands of obsessive “superfans” who can dictate their careers, while also facing immense scrutiny to maintain a flawless image.
Even the smallest mistake can lead to permanent career damage. Kim Se-ron became so controversial that some of her scenes were edited out of Netflix dramas such as Bloodhounds, which aired in 2023.
“It’s not enough for celebrities to be punished by law. They become the targets of relentless criticism,” said cultural critic Kim Hearn-sik.
He referred to K-pop artists Sulli and Goo Hara, who died by suicide in 2019 after facing relentless online harassment, despite not being involved in any legal troubles.
Sulli was heavily criticized for defying K-pop norms, while Goo Hara became a target online after a public dispute with an ex-boyfriend.
‘A Real-Life Squid Game’
Cyberbullying has become a profitable business for some, according to Kim Hearn-sik.
“YouTubers gain views, forums increase engagement, and news outlets attract more attention. I don’t think [Kim’s death] will change the situation. There is a need for harsher punishment against ruthless commenters,” he said.
Kim Se-ron’s father accused a YouTuber of contributing to her death, saying that the controversial videos they posted caused her severe emotional distress.
Others have blamed some media outlets for fueling public hostility toward Kim by reporting unverified claims.
“This cycle of media-driven character assassination must stop,” the Citizens Alliance for Democratic Media, a civil society group, said in a statement on Tuesday, February 18.
Na Jong-ho, a professor of psychiatry at Yale University, likened the spate of celebrity deaths in South Korea to a real-life version of Squid Game, the popular Korean drama series where indebted contestants fight to the death for a cash prize.
“Our society moves forward as if nothing happened, abandoning those who fall… How many more lives must be lost before we stop this destructive, suffocating shame?” he wrote on social media.
“Drunk driving is a serious mistake. If it is not punished, then something is wrong with the legal system. However, a society that buries wrongdoers without giving them a second chance is not a just society,” Professor Na added.
Reports have previously highlighted how K-pop’s “superfans” seek to control the personal lives of their “role models,” including their relationships and daily activities, and are often unforgiving when expectations are not met.
It’s no surprise that Kim Se-ron chose to step back from the public eye after her drunk driving conviction in April 2023, which resulted in a 20 million won (£11,000) fine.
However, not all celebrities face the same level of scrutiny. Politicians such as Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition and a leading presidential candidate in South Korea, have returned to the spotlight unscathed despite past convictions for drunk driving.
In South Korea, K-pop columnist Jeff Benjamin noted that it is “extremely difficult” for artists to rebuild their “role model” image once it has been damaged.
He compared this to the Western entertainment industry, where controversy and scandal can sometimes enhance a celebrity’s fame, “like being a rock star.”
“In Hollywood, if a celebrity is arrested for drunk driving or drug use, or even serves prison time for a significant crime, no one celebrates it, but it’s not necessarily career-ending,” he said.
The Korean entertainment industry has begun addressing mental health concerns among actors, but it remains unclear how effective these efforts have been.
Benjamin suggested that real change can only happen when there is no financial incentive for media outlets and content creators to profit from aggressive and damaging reporting.
