Traces of Kim Sae Ron's past before she died of suspected suicide continue to be revealed to the public. Not long ago, YouTuber Lee Jin Ho claimed that the actress underwent naerimgut (a traditional Korean shamanic ritual for spiritual initiation) last September 2024.
Kim Sae Ron reportedly agreed to do it after hearing that it could help her get back into acting. Lee Jin Ho alleged that the owner of a pub in Apgujeong, a close acquaintance of Kim Sae Ron, had influenced her after their own families underwent shamanism rituals.
However, the YouTuber's claims were strongly denied by several people close to Kim Sae Ron. On April 14, 2025, a close family friend denied claims that the "Bloodhounds" star was undergoing naerimgut to continue her acting career. Speaking to Hankyung, the actress' colleague stated, "It is absolutely not true that Kim Sae Ron underwent a shamanic ritual.
It is absolutely not true." She also clarified how the "Kiss Sixth Sense" star was initially linked to shamanism. A close associate clarified, "Kim Sae Ron became interested in Korean folk beliefs after appearing in a project related to the subject. The shaman in question (by Lee Jin Ho) is just an acquaintance and nothing more."
According to the close friend, Kim Sae Ron's interest began with her roles in the 2014 film "Man-Shin: Ten Thousand Spirits" and the 2021 drama "The Great Shaman Ga Doo-shim," both of which focused on traditional Korean shamanism.
"Man-Shin: Ten Thousand Spirits" tells the dramatic life story of Kim Keum Hwa, a famous Korean shaman known worldwide for his ritual performances, with Kim Sae Ron playing the younger version of her lead character. Meanwhile, in "The Great Shaman Ga Doo-shim," the actress received praise for her portrayal of a teenage shaman who fights evil spirits.
Additionally, the pub owner mentioned by Lee Jin Ho also denied the allegations on an online forum, stating, “If I were the one who arranged for Kim Sae Ron to undergo the shamanism ritual, I would have closed my business and disappeared quietly.”
Meanwhile, Kim Sae Ron's family has filed a defamation complaint against YouTuber Lee Jin Ho on March 17, 2025 under the Information and Communications Network Act, followed by an additional complaint on March 27, 2025 for violating the Stalking Punishment Act. Despite the legal action, Lee Jin Ho continues to release content related to Kim Sae Ron on YouTube.
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