'Making money out of her death' – Netizens slam broadcaster for planning to air Kim Sae-ron's previously cancelled drama

THE decision to air late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron’s final drama has sparked widespread backlash, with many accusing the production company of profiting from her death.

South Korean news portal Xports News reported that the drama Everyday We Are, which was previously cancelled has now finished post-production and set for broadcast.

While there were reports saying that Kim had withdrawn from the project following her drunk driving incident, the news portal confirmed that this was untrue.

It was reported that the late actress had finished filming the drama before her recent death.

The drama's director had praised Kim's dedication to her craft.

"She had a strong passion for acting and a deep understanding of her character, reflecting the director’s direction quickly and in a unique way," the director reportedly told Xports News.

Outrage has erupted online as netizens accused the production team of exploiting Kim’s death for financial gain.

Many pointed out that the drama, which was initially cancelled due to her controversy, was now being revived only after her passing, sparking criticism of how the entertainment industry handled fallen celebrities.

The decision to air a drama previously shelved due to scandal has triggered widespread backlash on social media with many pledging to boycott the show, refusing to support the production’s decision to release it posthumously.

Here is how netizens are reacting:

@christele_pe: "So, she had to die for them to allow her to be on air again... Wow, South Korea is a messed-up country."

@akosuah_boatemaa: "Would they have aired it if she was alive? Y’all abandoned her and refused to give her roles when she was alive. She even had to work in a café to get by, but now that she is gone, they suddenly want to air her drama that was cancelled because of her scandal."

@gbndch4: "So... producers and studio executives could have aired this drama two years ago to support her financially and help rebuild her reputation. But they chose to sit on it! Now, they want to appear as heroes after her death while capitalising on the renewed interest in the late star. Cowards!"

@multistan_30: "Everyone commenting now, saying, ‘How can I watch without,’ is being fake because none of them supported her. I never supported or hated her either since I wasn’t interested in the drama of fan attacks. So, at the very least, those who never supported her should keep it real—just say RIP and move on instead of putting on a show for likes. Especially news accounts."

@toya0922: "They are something else, capitalising on her death after they pushed her to it. Unbelievable!"

@iamteza8: "This is outrageous! The person died because you cancelled on her, and now you want to earn from her?! I’m still heartbroken over this, and the fact that they can’t do anything to help those suffering from bullying and depression."

@Anna_toure718: "Ready to broadcast? Now that she’s gone? Y’all are just a bunch of hypocrites using her death to seek public attention."

@winniecaty: "Boycott the drama. This isn’t right. They cancelled her, then we cancelled them. They are using her tragedy for profit."

Everyday We Are is a coming-of-age story based on a KakaoPage webtoon, portraying youthful friendships and first love.

Kim stars as Han Yeoul, a passionate basketball player, alongside Lee Chae-min as her childhood best friend, Oh Ho-soo, who confesses his feelings for her.

The series is set to air as a seven-episode drama, with each episode running for 60 minutes.

On Feb 16, Kim was found dead at her home in Seoul with investigations confirming suicide.

Her career declined after a 2022 drink-driving incident that caused a power outage, leading to legal repercussions and the revocation of her driver’s licence due to blood alcohol level of 0.2 per cent.

She withdrew from an upcoming drama and faced severe public backlash, as South Korea held celebrities to high moral standards.