Kim Sae-ron planned to open a cafe and return to acting: Friend remembers 'bright and energetic' late actress

Kim Sae-ron, the South Korean actress best known for her role in Netflix's Bloodhounds, passed away at the age of 24. She was found dead in her Seoul apartment on February 16. She was preparing to make a comeback with the film, Guitar Man.

Guitar Man’s director, Shin Jae Ho, paid tribute to Kim Sae-ron, recalling their first meeting during the script reading. "I first met Kim Sae-ron during the script reading for 'Guitar Man.' She was so bright and down-to-earth. After the reading, we went out for a meal together and had a great conversation,” he shared in an interview with Hankook Ilbo on Monday.

He praised her acting talent, despite the time she spent away from the industry due to her DUI controversy. “She was full of energy. Even though she had been acting for a long time, she was incredibly professional.”

Describing her presence on set, he added, “On set, she didn't feel like a young actress; she had the presence of a senior colleague. Among the cast of 'Guitar Man,' she had the most experience and showed remarkable skill.”

In the wake of her death, a close friend of Sae-ron, has also opened about her final months and shared their memories of her.

According to reports from the news outlet, OSEN, Sae-ron’s friend recounted their last conversation with her, which took place toward the end of 2024. The friend revealed that Sae-ron had recently changed her name to Kim Ah-im, a personal change she was undergoing as part of a fresh chapter in her life. “The last time I saw Kim Sae-Ron, she was preparing for her return with the movie Guitar Man. We talked about how she was ready to get back into acting and finally make some money. I never imagined this would happen,” the friend said.

In addition to her acting comeback, the actress had also been planning to open a café. Her friend explained, "She was preparing to open a café and was also planning her return to the entertainment industry. I still can’t believe it. The reason she wanted to open a café was because she had been working at one while filming, but managing both schedules was too difficult, so she eventually quit," they said. "She was making plans to move while preparing for the café with her friends. There were no signs of anything being wrong. I even told her to call me if she was struggling.”

Sae-ron’s body was discovered by a friend who had come to visit her at her Seongdong-gu apartment in Seoul on Sunday. The friend contacted the police around 4:50-5:00 PM after finding the actress unresponsive. Authorities have ruled out foul play and any signs of forced entry, though the cause of her death is still under investigation.

Sae-ron, who made her debut in 2009, had kept a low public profile, following a DUI incident in May 2022. She crashed into multiple lampposts and guardrails in Gangnam, Seoul, and was fined 20 million won in April 2023. The incident sparked negative public reactions, making it challenging for her to land new roles. She attempted a comeback in the play Dongchimi last year but withdrew due to health issues.

Sae-ron had been looking forward to her acting comeback with Guitar Man, a film, she had reportedly completed filming in 2024.