"Health Reasons" Theater Dongchimi Withdrawal
Activity Suspended After Drinking Accident in May 2022
Actress Kim Sae-ron (24), who halted all activities two years ago after a drunk driving accident, announced her return through theater but reversed the decision just one day later.
On the 18th, Kim Sae-ron announced that she would ultimately withdraw from the play "Dongchimi" due to health reasons. She was scheduled to play the role of the youngest daughter, 'Jeong-yeon,' in the production set to open on the 3rd of next month. News of her comeback was revealed on the 17th.
Kim Sae-ron appeared in promotional videos for the play, introducing the story alongside fellow actors. It was also reported that she went on a retreat with the cast. Until the previous day, her name was listed among the cast and on ticketing sites, but all mentions were removed on the day of the announcement. The play "Dongchimi" depicts the tender love of an elderly couple and the sibling bond among three brothers and sisters.
Actor Kim Sae-ron, who caused an accident in May 2022 by hitting a roadside tree and a transformer while driving under the influence, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held on April 5 last year at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]
In May 2022, Kim Sae-ron caused an accident while driving under the influence in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, crashing into a streetlight, transformer, and guardrail before fleeing the scene. The accident caused a power outage lasting over four hours in the Apgujeong-dong and Sinsa-dong areas, severely impacting local businesses, including the inability to process card payments.
At the time, Kim Sae-ron's blood alcohol concentration was 0.2%, far exceeding the license cancellation threshold of 0.008%. She was prosecuted for violating the Road Traffic Act and was fined 20 million won in the first trial in April last year. During the trial, she pleaded for leniency citing financial hardship. However, controversy arose when it was revealed that she had hired a former attorney from a top-tier law firm.
Following this, Kim Sae-ron issued an apology stating, "I committed a serious mistake while intoxicated. I should have acted more cautiously and responsibly, but I failed to do so. I sincerely apologize," and then suspended her activities. Although she appeared in the Netflix drama "Hounds" released last year, most of her scenes were edited out.
On the 24th of last month, she unexpectedly posted a photo on Instagram with actor Kim Soo-hyun, their faces close together, but deleted it within minutes. Regarding this, Kim Soo-hyun's agency denied dating rumors, stating, "We have no idea about the intention behind Kim Sae-ron's actions." Kim Sae-ron initially said she would clarify her position but later changed her mind, saying she would make no comment.
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