Why Korean society is so unforgiving to celebrities

Kim Sae-ron’s death latest example of South Korea’s harsh treatment, judgment of celebrities

The death of former child actor Kim Sae-ron has once again reignited debate over South Korea’s harsh and unforgiving nature toward public figures, particularly celebrities.

Experts point to the nation’s deep-seated culture of relative deprivation as a root cause, fueling intense societal pressure on celebrities to maintain an image of perfection and leaving little room for mistakes or redemption.

Kim, who rose to fame in the 2010 film “The Man From Nowhere,” saw her career unravel after a drunk driving incident in 2022. Her car accident caused power outages in a Seoul neighbourhood, and with a blood alcohol content level of 0.2 percent, she was well over the legal limit.

Although she expressed deep remorse and paid a fine of 20 million won ($13,900), public scrutiny never seemed to subside.

Sociologists say that the unforgiving nature towards celebrities’ mistakes, which possibly drove Kim to the edge, is due to Korean society’s tendency to “constantly compare themselves to others,” leading to “relative deprivation toward those who seem to ‘have more’ than them.”

“In the case of celebrities like Kim Sae-ron, from the outside, she looks perfect ― in terms of her looks, her lifestyle and finances. The ‘perfect life’ that most Koreans crave to live puts celebrities at the centre of jealousy,” sociology professor Huh Chang-deog from Yeungnam University told The Korea Herald.

“Due to societal problems that currently take hold in Korea, such as high living prices, many Koreans tend to develop a sense of being impoverished and wanting more, comparing themselves with celebrities. This puts celebrities at the centre of respect but, ironically, also arouses a sense of jealousy and hatred toward them for having what they don’t have,” Huh explained.

Another sociology professor, Choi Hang-sub from Kookmin University, said the attention and popularity celebrities in Korea receive is like a “double-edged sword,” as emotions linked to jealousy can exacerbate further once a celebrity is seen making mistakes.

“Though public figures, especially celebrities, have always been held up to extremely high standards, it has gotten even more common recently to see celebrities get pushed over the edge, as people wish to feel a sense of power and pleasure from playing a part in condemning and destroying others,” said Choi.

Seol Dong-hoon from Jeonbuk National University told The Korea Herald that it is also due to Korean society’s rigorous expectations, a deeply ingrained sense of collectivism and a culture that places immense pressure on individuals to conform.

“Such social traits have fostered a zero-tolerance environment, where personal failures, especially among celebrities, are seen as irredeemable. The nation’s competitive nature, driven by strict educational and professional hierarchies, leaves little room for mistakes,” said Seol. “Public figures who err are not just criticised — they are erased.”

Unlike other countries where celebrities have been able to rebuild their careers after similar incidents, Kim appeared to have found herself permanently ostracised, according to local reports quoting industry insiders.

Kim lost acting roles, had her scenes cut from Netflix productions and was blacklisted by brands and media outlets.

Her attempts at rebuilding her life – taking a café job and later preparing for a return through theatre – was met with further ridicule and online harassment. Even a simple social media post of hers sparked waves of renewed criticism.

Kim’s fate was also not unique, as Korea has a history of treating public figures with extreme harshness once they are perceived to have erred. The entertainment industry, in particular, enforces a moral standard that often leaves no room for second chances.

As for the reasons behind such a sentiment, sociology professor Koo Jeong-woo from Sungkyunkwan University told The Korea Herald that there is an unspoken “social contract” that Koreans hold over celebrities based on moral standards.

“In Korea, being a celebrity isn’t just a special career, they are expected to meet public expectations and are held up to high moral standards,” said Koo.

“In the case of fans and celebrities in particular, you can say that there’s something like a social contract between them, where fans say they will organise special events and conduct nice gestures for the celebrities’ successes, while expecting them to act responsibly in return.”

Koo added that it could also be because fans in Korea find their identities “linked” with the celebrities.

“A lot of Korean fans show a tendency of linking the celebrities’ identities with theirs, which is how a lot of intimacy is created between the fans and the celebrities. But this also has drawbacks, as committing offenses like drunk driving can also make the fans turn their backs in a heartbeat,” said Koo.

Harsher standards for women?

Meanwhile, some question whether Kim had been treated more harshly because she was a young female celebrity.

“Male celebrities with similar offenses have managed to return,” some critics argued. “Would she have faced this level of scrutiny if she were a man?”

The entertainment industry has long been criticised for its double standards, particularly in how it handles scandals involving male versus female stars.

While some male celebrities have committed crimes and still managed to return to the public eye after brief periods of self-reflection, women often face harsher, irreversible consequences for even minor controversies.

Kim’s death at just 24 – an age when most people are only beginning their adult lives – raises painful questions.

How did a young woman, who once stood as one of South Korea’s most promising talents end up being pushed to such an extreme fate? How does a society that claims to value justice and fairness continue to selectively punish some while allowing others to move on?

While no one denies that drunk driving is a serious offense, Seol notes that there is a fundamental difference between ensuring someone faces consequences and perpetually tormenting them for their mistake.

“Every individual deserves an opportunity for redemption, but South Korean society often refuses to grant this to those who have fallen from grace. Instead, it continuously reinforces their transgressions, making it nearly impossible for them to move forward,” said Seol.

Huh echoed the sentiment that society must change itself to be more “tolerant” of other people’s mistakes.

“People grow and become better people by making mistakes. Society must remember that just because someone is a celebrity and looks perfect doesn’t mean they’re actually perfect, and that they’re human too – prone to make some sort of mistake in the long run,” said Huh.