Did Kim Sae Ron undergo a shamanic ritual before her death? Conflicting claims emerge

New claims have surfaced around late South Korean actor Kim Sae Ron, alleging that she underwent a shamanic ritual in a desperate bid to return to acting after her career hit a low following a drunk driving incident. A video uploaded by entertainment YouTuber Lee Jin-ho reignited the conversation by detailing her alleged experience with Korean shamanism. However, the actor's family has denied all such claims, calling them baseless and harmful.

Lee Jin-ho’s viral claim about the ritual

According to Kbizoom, on April 11, YouTuber Lee Jin-ho uploaded a video titled “Shocking Exclusive! Why Did the Late Kim Sae Ron Receive a Shamanic Ritual?” to his YouTube channel. In it, he claimed that the actor participated in a spiritual ritual in September 2023 at a famous shrine in Seoul.

“In September last year, Kim Sae Ron received a shamanic ritual at a famous shaman’s shrine in Seoul. Initially, she had no intention of doing so, but the continued hardships she faced pushed her to that point,” he said.

Lee said that Kim had been struggling with recurring nightmares and physical ailments at the time. Her will to return to acting was reportedly very strong, and she was allegedly told that a shamanic ritual could enable her comeback.

“When someone told her that receiving a shamanic ritual could enable her to act again, the idea deeply shook her,” Lee added.

Lee’s video also mentioned that Kim turned to an Apgujeong-based pub owner for emotional support. The pub owner's family reportedly had experience in shamanic practices and gave her advice regarding the ritual.

“According to acquaintances, Kim Sae Ron had confided in the pub owner about her consideration of the ritual. She ultimately received the ritual in September last year. Her situation at the time was at its worst,” Lee said.

Psychological and financial struggles

Lee revealed that Kim was overwhelmed by two major problems during this time. The first was her drunk driving incident, which occurred in May 2022 and led to public backlash, loss of endorsement deals, and halted acting projects. Not long after, she began working part-time jobs, including at a café, to support herself and her family.

Kim was reportedly the sole breadwinner for her family and was dealing with stalkers who followed her to her workplace. Lee also alleged that she had asked fellow celebrities and acquaintances for financial support but was unable to collect the funds she needed.

Adding to her stress, Lee claimed that Kim had gone through a breakup in July 2023 with a boyfriend she met while working part-time. He referenced a voice recording, allegedly from Kim, in which she said, “I feel like everything is insane.”

She also reportedly fell ill during her marriage to an American man, which was only recently made public. It was during this physically and emotionally taxing period that she was said to have decided to go through with the shamanic ritual.

The financial trap of the ritual

According to Lee Jin-ho, Kim was initially told that the ritual would cost between 10 million and 15 million KRW. However, she later learned that the full process involved two more stages, requiring additional fees — amounting to another 30 million KRW.

Lee stated that Kim tried to borrow money from friends and acquaintances but was unsuccessful. What followed was a period of deep despair. She was reportedly told, “Without completing the additional rituals, you will never be able to act again,” which left her feeling hopeless and trapped.

Family denies all allegations of ritual or spirit possession

In contrast to the viral claims, Kim Sae Ron’s family has come forward to deny all allegations related to her involvement in any ritual. According to Hankyung.com, a family associate stated on April 14:

“The notion that Kim Sae Ron underwent a shamanic ritual is false. Absolutely not.”

They clarified that while Kim had shown an interest in folk beliefs, this was due to her professional roles in related films and dramas. The shaman mentioned in the YouTube video, they said, was simply an acquaintance, not someone who performed rituals for her.

“It is false news that a spirit possessed her. She became interested in the field after appearing in a work based on folk beliefs in the past. The shaman is just an acquaintance and nothing more,” the family said in a separate interview.

The family also pointed to Kim’s earlier roles, such as in the film ‘Manshin: Ten Thousand Spirits’ (2014) and the drama ‘The Great Shaman Ga Doo-shim’ (2021), as the reason for her interest in Korean shamanism.

Lee’s video further claimed that the Apgujeong pub owner’s wife had received a shinaerim (a traditional Korean spirit-possession ceremony), which in turn influenced Kim. He also alleged that this pub owner, identified as a “close friend,” leaked a voice recording in which Kim allegedly mentioned actor Kim Soo Hyun — a recording that later became controversial online.

However, the pub owner has strongly denied having anything to do with spiritual rituals or spreading rumours.

“If Sae Ron were possessed by a spirit and I had arranged it, I would close the store immediately and quietly disappear,” he told media.

Legal action taken by Kim Sae Ron’s family

Kim’s family has now filed defamation charges against YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, accusing him of making false claims that caused significant emotional damage. They have also sued him for stalking, citing repeated video uploads that intruded into Kim’s personal life.

The lawsuits claim that Kim faced extreme mental stress due to the false stories, even while she was alive. The family is now taking strong legal steps to ensure such narratives are not further circulated.

Kim Sae Ron was found dead in her residence in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on 16 February 2024. She was only 25.