Netflix Star Kim Sae-ron's Cause of Death Revealed After She Is Found Dead at 24: Reports

Mar. 15, 2025

Kim Sae-Ron in Seoul, South Korea, on April 13, 2018.Photo:Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

Kim Sae-ron’s cause of death has reportedly been revealed.

“We believe she made an extreme choice and plan to handle it as a suicide,” police told reporters, according to the latter outlet.

The Korean National Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Monday, Feb. 17.

Kim was found dead in her home in Seongsu-dong, a neighborhood in eastern Seoul, South Korea, just before 5 p.m. local time on Sunday, Feb. 16,Yonhapreported, citing authorities.

Kim Sae-Ron in Seoul, South Korea, on April 13, 2018.Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

Known for her childhood roles, Kim made her acting debut at age 9 playing an orphan called Jinhee in the 2009 dramaA Brand New Life, which earned her international acclaim.

She followed it up with another memorable performance in the action-thrillerThe Man from Nowhere, which cemented her as a rising star.

Some of the late actress’ other memorable roles includeThe Neighbor(2012),A Girl at My Door(2014) and the drama seriesMirror of the Witch, which first aired for 20 episodes starting in 2016.

Kim then stepped away from her acting career after she was caught driving under the influence of alcohol in May 2022, according toYonhap.

The star crashed her car into a guardrail, trees and a transformer during the incident in southern Seoul, causing a temporary power outage in the area, the agency said. She was later fined a sum equaling about $15,000 for the incident in April 2023.

Kim Sae-Ron in Seoul, South Korea, on April 15, 2019.Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

The actress’s hiatus officially ended with her role in Netflix’s action seriesBloodhounds, which hit the streamer in June 2023. However, much of her screentime was edited out in the wake of her 2022 accident and the surrounding controversy,Varietyreported. The project marked her final work.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

A friend who had plans to meet with Kim found her at her home and reported her death on Sunday, Yonhap said at the time.

source: people.com