[Exclusive] Kim Sae-ron's Side: "The Accident Vehicle Was the Only Asset"

Kim Sae-ron's Lawyer: "Apartment Registered Under Agency Name"
Parents' Business Failure Drained Income
Also Bearing Agency's Debt Situation

The side of actress Kim Sae-ron, who is on trial for a drunk driving accident, stated on the 13th that "the accident vehicle was her only asset."

Min Ki-ho, the lawyer representing Kim Sae-ron, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the same day, "It is true that she is doing part-time jobs due to financial difficulties," and explained, "The penalty fees resulting from the drunk driving accident are substantial, leaving her with a large amount of debt."

Lawyer Min added, "All her income so far has been used for her parents' business funds and family living expenses," and "She has no choice but to sustain her livelihood through part-time work, and she is at a loss as to how to repay the debts owed to her agency."

Lawyer Min explained that Kim Sae-ron had virtually no assets from the time of the accident. Regarding the apartment revealed on a past entertainment show, he said, "It was a house under the agency's name, and she was living there on a lease."

Lawyer Min said, "Since there was no money, the agency had no choice but to compensate the victims, including local merchants, with the lease deposit." He added, "The compensation amount could not be covered by the lease deposit alone, and the rest was initially settled with the agency's money," and "Kim Sae-ron is in a situation where she has to repay the amount the agency paid in advance."

Actor Kim Sae-ron, who caused an accident last May by hitting a roadside tree and a transformer while driving under the influence, is leaving the building after the first trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 8th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The exact amount of compensation Kim Sae-ron has to bear due to the drunk driving accident is not known. However, the legal community estimates, based on similar precedents, that it could range from several hundred million won to tens of billions of won. A significant portion of this is reportedly penalty fees according to contracts with production companies of works she was filming or preparing at the time of the accident.

Earlier, Kim Sae-ron was prosecuted for causing an accident by drunk driving in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, last May, where she hit guardrails and street trees multiple times. At the first trial held on the 8th at the Seoul Central District Court before Judge Lee Hwan-gi of Criminal Division 4, Kim Sae-ron's side pleaded for leniency, stating, "Kim Sae-ron, who has been supporting her family as a young head of household, is experiencing financial difficulties after paying the compensation," and "Not only Kim Sae-ron but also her family is suffering from financial hardship due to this incident."

After the trial, on the 11th, Kim Sae-ron posted three photos on social media (SNS). The photos showed her wearing an apron from a famous coffee shop, working in the store, and wearing sanitary gloves while baking.

Kim Sae-ron's side has not issued a separate statement regarding these photos. However, some of the photos are known to be from places where Kim Sae-ron actually works part-time, and the rest are from stores where acquaintances worked. The sentencing trial for Kim Sae-ron is scheduled for the 5th of next month.