That time I thought I could save korea

I’m sure you’ve heard the news of Kim Sae Ron’s passing by now. She passed away from suicide on February 16. Kim Sae Ron was a young South Korean actress who had her breakout role in 2009 with A Brand New Life. The following year, she won Best New Actress at the Korean Film Awards for her performance in The Man from Nowhere. From there, she continued to build an impressive career, winning multiple awards. However, her most popular roles were in Secret Healer and Hi! School-Love On.

Kim Sae Ron was a budding talent with so much to offer the entertainment industry. I mean, look at all the awards she won at such a young age, she was amazing at her craft. But like every other young person, she made mistakes. The only difference is that she made those mistakes in South Korea, a country where actors and celebrities face an immense amount of pressure to maintain a perfect image. One misstep can have extreme consequences, sometimes even ending their careers.

This pressure doesn’t just apply to celebrities. It even affects the everyday working class as well; who are also trying to live up to the high standards with South Korea and it’s very strong worth ethic/work culture. I first started paying attention to this in 2014 when I fell in love with South Korea through it’s dramas. One thing I noticed was how bullying was a recurring theme; whether in school, the workplace, or even within families, there was always some form of mistreatment. This made me curious, so I started researching why. I found that it’s because of the country’s competitive nature. This competitiveness circles back to upholding the high standards of South Korea and when you can’t live up to it. Suicide is often the answer.So much so that South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

These stories broke my heart. I thought “I have to save Korea”. Yes, little ol’ me. I know what you’re thinking.. ”But there’s suicide in America too. Why not help America?" Well, compared to South Korea, the majority of suicide cases in the U.S. are linked to mental illness and genetics.. things I can’t change/alter. But in South Korea, in many cases, it’s driven by societal pressure; the fear of failure or the feeling of worthlessness that usually comes from not meeting expectations.

My plan was to speak like into South Korea by becoming an English teacher. Letting them (children & adults..whoever I could teach English to) know that success is how YOU define it! Not what society thinks.. In 2016, I got my passport to do study abroad, and I found a program that would set me on that path. Eventually, I hoped to transition into teaching full-time. But in the end, it just didn’t make sense for me at that stage in my life.

Years later, I still want to achieve that goal—not just for South Korea, but for people everywhere. Through Unnie and Her Dramas, I hope to spark conversations and shine a light on these issues and more.