[비즈한국] Controversy is growing over the messages allegedly sent by the late Kim Sae-ron to actor Kim Soo-hyun. Reading the content released by the bereaved family, one can grasp just how fatal the sense of social isolation can be for young stars. It can lead not only to physical and mental health deterioration but also to catastrophic outcomes. It seems to reflect the fragility of the social networks and social capital within our entertainment industry. In this context, whether or not the late Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun were in a relationship is not the core issue.
Looking at the text messages, it appears that Kim Sae-ron trusted and relied on Kim Soo-hyun. When she faced a lawsuit for 20 billion won in damages following her drunk driving accident in 2022, she reached out to Kim Soo-hyun for help, and he provided her with a significant sum, reportedly 700 million won. Of course, this was likely a loan rather than a gift, but in a situation where many people would cut off contact rather than offer help, she must have been truly grateful. However, when her agency suddenly sent a formal notice demanding the repayment of this money, she seemed very flustered. Furthermore, when she sent messages asking for consideration and received no response from Kim Soo-hyun, she must have felt even more desperate.
Moreover, the 700 million won was not the only debt she had to resolve. There was a staggering 20 billion won in damages she had been inexplicably saddled with. While it is true she damaged a transformer and caused harm to local shops, a 20 billion won liability is difficult to justify. Such an unreasonable sum likely surfaced because Kim Sae-ron was a famous star rather than an ordinary citizen. However, one wonders if her agency sufficiently investigated and reviewed this liability. Overall, the agency appears to have been of little help to Kim Sae-ron. The late Sulli and Goo Hara also received little support from their agencies. They did not even receive active legal protection against malicious comments.
Studies by scholars indicate that social isolation refers to a state where, due to reduced interaction with others, forming relationships becomes difficult, leading to negative psychological states. This not only negatively impacts physical and mental health but can also be a fatal variable that drives young people into extreme situations. In particular, it is said that when young people are unable to pursue their work, not only do opportunities for self-realization diminish, but they may also experience isolation, depression, and frustration, which can lead to tragic consequences. The negative impact is even greater for unmarried individuals who lack a support system compared to those who are married. Applying this mechanism, Kim Sae-ron’s case was typical, yet the situation was even worse.
Kim Sae-ron’s life may have seemed glamorous, but she was severed from everyone in an instant. As even her agency and the acquaintances she trusted turned away from her, her sense of social isolation likely deepened. Furthermore, being unable to pursue the acting career she had held since childhood must have brought her deep despair. Since a film she had produced could not even be released because of her, her guilt toward others must have intensified. There was no one to help her, and even the social media posts she occasionally made became targets for criticism. Above all, an unmeasurable scale of debt made the situation critical.
The Korean entertainment industry needs change. The culture of "yeomryang-setae" (people being fickle—warm when one is successful and cold when they are not)—where people surround young stars when they are in the spotlight but coldly turn their backs when they are not—must change. As Putnam argued, we must build "social capital" within our entertainment industry as well. The components of social capital include network connectivity, trust, and reciprocity. Network connectivity means that people in relationships remain consistently connected. The entertainment industry is vulnerable here because the frequency of simple contact is high, but deep connections are lacking. Trust is a relational value where one believes in the person themselves, regardless of conditions. Relationships where one can trust and cooperate regardless of fame or economic value must form the foundation. Reciprocity refers to people in a specific group helping one another. It is essentially the concept of mutual aid. Being able to help in times of difficulty can prevent tragic events and allow everyone to prosper together. No matter how smoothly things are going on a path to success, a crisis will inevitably arrive at some point.
While stars should be able to create such social capital, the reality is that they are often left defenseless. Rather than each person and agency struggling for survival individually, we must build relationships based on mutual trust and reliance as members of a proud community called the Korean entertainment industry. Minors and young adults cannot be sacrificed forever. It is necessary for seniors to take the lead. Korean stars are now valuable, living cultural resources and national treasures on the global stage. It is time for the government to step in actively as well.
The author, Kim Heon-sik, has spent his time navigating or cutting through the forest of pop culture phenomena since his 20s, with the expectation that there is a way to make the world a better place through culture. He continues on the same path in the 21st century, where AI and quantum computers are active, with that same belief.
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