Kim Sae-ron Appeals Financial Hardship... Controversy Over Gangnam Hold'em Pub Sighting Reports

Dispatch Releases Photos of Kim Sae-ron Visiting Hold'em Pub
Informer: "Enjoyed for Over 3 Hours... Skilled Play"
Despite Complaints of Financial Hardship, 'False Controversy' Repeats

The first trial verdict for actress Kim Sae-ron (23), who caused an accident while driving under the influence, is set to be announced on the 5th, amid controversy over reports of her visiting a hold'em pub that contradict her claims of financial hardship.

The Seoul Central District Court will hold a sentencing hearing on the morning of the 5th for Kim Sae-ron, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), and the passenger who was indicted for aiding and abetting her drunk driving.

Actor Kim Sae-ron, who caused an accident in May 2022 by driving under the influence and crashing into street trees and a transformer, is seen getting into a vehicle after finishing the first trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of March 8.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the sentencing hearing on the 8th of last month, the prosecution requested the court to impose a fine of 20 million won on Kim Sae-ron, stating, "She caused an accident while driving under the influence and fled the scene without taking any measures, which shows a bad nature of the crime," but also noted, "She confessed to all the crimes and made efforts to recover by reaching settlements with the affected merchants." A fine of 5 million won was requested for the passenger.

At that time, Kim Sae-ron's lawyer appealed, saying, "The defendant is experiencing financial difficulties due to a huge compensation payment and, as the head of the household, supports her family, who have also been struggling financially since the incident," and asked for leniency. After the trial, when asked about her current situation by reporters, Kim Sae-ron said, "I am getting by with part-time work."

However, on the 4th, entertainment media Dispatch reported that Kim Sae-ron was seen enjoying games at a hold'em pub, sparking controversy over the sincerity of her claims of financial hardship.

The media released photos from February showing Kim Sae-ron visiting a hold'em pub in Gangnam, Seoul. She was seen sitting at a poker table with acquaintances, playing Texas Hold'em with a bright expression. A source told the media that Kim Sae-ron stayed at the hold'em pub for more than three hours, recharging chips at least once, and that her play was "quite skillful."

Since hold'em pubs are not illegal gambling establishments, her visit is not problematic, but it appears to be a repeated case of "false controversy" regarding Kim Sae-ron's claims of financial hardship following the drunk driving accident.

Previously, it was revealed that one of the two law firms Kim Sae-ron hired for this case is a large firm ranked in the top 10 in domestic law firm revenue. Also, after the trial, the cafe where Kim Sae-ron posted a "proof shot" of her part-time job stated that "Kim Sae-ron has never worked at the store," leading to criticism that it was a staged act to garner sympathy.

Meanwhile, on the morning of May 18 last year, around 8 a.m., Kim Sae-ron, in a heavily intoxicated state, caused an accident near Hakdong Intersection in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, hitting guardrails, street trees, and a transformer. The police attempted to measure Kim Sae-ron's blood alcohol concentration at the scene, but at her request, a blood test was conducted. The test results showed a blood alcohol concentration of about 0.2% or higher, far exceeding the license cancellation level (0.08%).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.