When Kim Sae -ron was Found dead In her home in February, she joined the increasing list of South Korean entertainers who ended their own lives. But the actress, who was 24, created more titles in death than in her life because her relationship with the older male superstar was under surveillance.

The tragedy and scandal was installed by Kim Soo-Hyun, 37, one of South Korea’s most famous actors, and is full of accusations of a valuable K-Drama story: a former child and a man for 13 years, her elderly began to come out. Shortly after they broke up, the actress went into a drunken driving incident that proved to be a fatal career and suffered financial problems, while the actor became one of the richest stars in the country. She tried, but failed to come back. Then she took her own life.

The scandal also filed more serious accusations. Ever since Mrs. Kim’s death, her family said that Mr. Kim began to hang out when she was a minor, and that after being separated, the talents agency he founded pressed on the debt he could not return. Mr. Kim denied the charges against him and filed a lawsuit for the defamation against the family of Mrs. Kim.

But the scandal has already begun to burn Mr. Kim’s career and emphasized the dangers of celebrities in South Korea, where personal lives can be under relentless supervision. The stars saw that their career was ruined – or even ended your own life – Because of the aggressive and sometimes malicious internet rumors around everything, from plastic surgeries to their romantic life.

“South Koreans treat entertainers like public figures that have to fill ethical standards such as textbooks,” said Bae Kug-Nam, author of several books on entertainment industry in South Korea.

This culture created a deadly trap in combination with the YouTubers and other influencers who threw out sensational details about the personal life of the star, said Mr. Bae.

Mrs. Kim, a former children’s star, faced such an attack when she entered the drunken driving incident in 2022. In the midst of public anger, advertisers left her. The roles were canceled. Mrs. Kim left the gold medal of Mr. Kim after the incident, but she still owed a big loan that was used to pay for the penalty for failure to fulfill contracts with production companies and advertisers.

Lack of risk management training leaves many South Korean entertainers poorly prepared for such crises, he said Jeongseob KimProfessor at Gradate School of Culture Industry and Art at the Sungshin Women’s University in Seoul. For them, scandal often means financial devastation.

“The stars reach incredible heights,” said prof. Kim. “But they do not realize that tall peaks mean deep valleys until they get into problems.”

Mrs. Kim’s relationship with Mr. Kim became news when she briefly posted an old photo on her Instagram. The photo showed the two of them with the cheeks touching and triggering the anger of speculation, although Mr. Kim denied the relationship with the exit.

Mr. Kim faced a full scandal last month after Miss Kimina family took her story HoverlabYouTube channel best known for wearing sensational content. Hoverlab posted photos, video and text messages he said they supported his claims that Mr. Kim had begun sexually nurturing Mrs. Kim when she was under the age of 16 and ignored her when she was in financial problems.

Mr. Kim and his agency denied the demands and filed lawsuits against Hoverlab, as well as the Kim family, accusing them of spreading fictional evidence, blackmailing the actor and violating his privacy.

A few days before Mrs. Kim posted a photo last year, she received a notice from Mr. Kim agency, which requires the repayment of her debt. The agency said that the notice was just a procedural step, but her family’s lawyers said she was feeling pressure and seeking help from Mr. Kim.

“She tried, but she couldn’t reach Kim Soo-Hyun,” said Boo Ji-Seok, a lawyer of her family. “She posted a photo briefly, hoping to make him call her.”

It was only under the growing pressure of Mrs. Kim’s family, Mr. Kim said last month that he had been going out for a year after becoming an adult. Mrs. Kim’s lawyers insist that their romantic relationship lasted six years since 2015.

Mr. Kim said his denial was stimulated last year by the fear of the damage that his recognition would cause. “I had so much to protect,” he said during a tearful press conference on Monday, explaining that the drama series he plays in is acting, called “Queen of Tears”, Then he shown himself on television. “What would happen to the actors who performed with me, a staff who worked on a set and a production team overnight who put everything on that project?”

The brands began to throw him out of his commercials. Local media reported that he could face major penalties if the scandal threatened the projects that was included, including a Disney+ show.

“It will be difficult for him to maintain his current status,” said prof. Kim. “The system rarely allows another opportunity.”

If you think about suicide, call or text 988 to reach 988 suicide and crisis life or go to Speaking-icide.com/Resources for a list of additional resources.

In South Korea Call 109 for a telephone line to prevent suicide of the Ministry of Health or go to a place in Korean language 129.GO.KR/109.