Actress Kim-sae Ron was found dead at the age of 24 at her home in Seoul on Sunday afterward it was bombarded with negative press coverage and hate online after the drink and drive case in 2022.
The entertainment sector in South Korea is extremely popular. There are currently around 220 million fans of Korean entertainment worldwide, four times South Korea's population. However, there is an increasing focus on the less glamorous aspects of the sector.
South Korea is well-known for its highly competitive culture in all aspects of life, from education to careers. It has one of the highest suicide rates in wealthy countries. While the general suicide rate is declining, deaths among people in their twenties are increasing. This pressure is magnified for celebrities. They are under enormous pressure to be flawless, and the expectations of fanatical "super fans" can make or kill careers.
He was referring to K-pop musicians Sulli and Goo Hara, who committed suicide in 2019 after lengthy battles with internet trolls, despite having no prior legal issues. Sulli had outraged fans by not fitting into the K-pop mold, and an internet mob had targeted Goo Hara for her relationship with an ex-boyfriend."YouTubers gain views, forums get engagement, and news sites get traffic. I do not believe [Kim's death] will change the situation. The politician claims there needs to be harsher criminal punishment against leaving nasty comments. Kim Sae-ron's father has blamed her death on a YouTuber, stating that the controversial videos he posted caused her severe emotional distress.
Others have cast accusations at some local media sources for allegedly fueling public hostility toward Kim by publicizing unproven information. "This cycle of media-driven character assassination must end," the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media stated in a statement on Tuesday. "Driving under the influence is a grave error. It would be an issue for our justice system if that went unpunished. However, a culture that buries those who make mistakes without giving them another chance is unhealthy," Prof Na noted.
