Sungwon Pharmaceuticals CEO Lee Sun Jung, who is also the director of the Korean drama Guitar Man, spoke about Kim Sae Ron in a press conference on May 21, 2025. Lee was quite sad to remember the times when he worked with Kim Sae Ron.
Guitar Man itself was one of the late Kim Sae Ron's last projects before she passed away. Before casting Kim Sae Ron as the lead, Lee Sun Jung was warned by several crew members that the film might never be released due to the controversy surrounding the lead actress.
Kim Sae Ron's drunk driving incident in May 2022, caused her career to dim. The accident caused property damage and public backlash that prompted her to step down from the SBS drama Trolley and the Netflix series Bloodhounds.
Kim was also reported to be having financial difficulties and she tried to work part-time at a cafe. Great concerns arose considering the possibility of a wave of protests from the public. Even so, Lee Sun Jung remained firm in her stance, unwavering in her beliefs, trusting her instincts regarding Kim Sae Ron's talent.
Director Lee remained supportive of the actress's return to the small screen. After being cast, Kim Sae Ron made the difficult decision to leave her part-time job to focus and devote herself fully to the film. “Initially we had another actress in mind for the role, but after meeting Kim Sae Ron, everything changed.
Since our first meeting, she came after reading the script carefully and brought a lot of ideas. Her passion for a small-scale film like ours is something I really appreciate. And her bright smile, I will never forget it,” Lee was quoted as saying by Koreaboo May 23, 2025.
Behind Kim Sae Ron's commitment and professionalism , Lee witnessed the emotional stress the young actress was going through. Lee recalled how Sae Ron smiled in front of the camera but looked very tired once she looked away. The actress is very aware of how people perceive her.
During breaks during filming, Sae Ron spends most of her time in the car, trying hard to avoid unwanted attention. "Even when we all sat down to eat and drink together, he poured his alcohol into a glass of water for fear of someone seeing.
Seeing that made my heart ache. I kept wondering if he really had to go this far," recalled director Lee. Even after Kim Sae Ron's death, Guitar Man's director continued with post-production, even though it was painful to see her in the film.
Lee Sun Jung felt that she had promised Kim Sae Ron to make sure the film was released in theaters. Guitar Man is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. It is scheduled to hit South Korean theaters on May 30, 2025.
The film tells the story of a talented guitarist who, despite facing harsh realities, finds hope through music and meaningful relationships. Kim Sae Ron's passing away at such a young age was certainly a heavy blow to those who loved her sincerely.
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