Former South Korean actress Kim Se-in (김세인) recently appeared on MBN’s program “Exclusive World,” where she publicly revealed the true reasons for her withdrawal from the entertainment industry. She admitted that due to her family’s financial difficulties, she had to take on explicit, high-exposure roles to support them. She also accused her former agency CEO of taking her to hostess bars and other entertainment venues for business engagements, which left her utterly disillusioned with the industry and ultimately led to her decision to leave. Today, she cares for 15 stray animals and works part-time as a delivery driver to make ends meet. Her challenging life story has garnered significant public attention.
Kim Se-in disclosed that her father was once an entrepreneur, and she grew up in affluence. However, after the 1997 Asian financial crisis (IMF financial crisis) erupted, her family’s finances collapsed overnight. She recalled, “Our family of three once lived in a place like a warehouse, without even a toilet.” To help with the family’s expenses, she entered the entertainment industry at age 20, hoping to improve their financial situation through acting.
However, even after giving all her acting fees to her parents, the family’s economic situation showed no improvement. To earn a substantial amount of money quickly, she ultimately chose to accept roles involving extensive nudity. Kim Se-in tearfully stated, “At that time, I desperately needed those tens of millions of Korean Won. Our family’s situation was so difficult, and I felt that if I didn’t step up, everything would collapse.”
Reflecting on this past, she also shared her father’s reaction upon learning about it. She revealed that her father was deeply remorseful, repeatedly blaming himself: “I can’t believe I have to spend money my daughter earned so painfully.” Her father could never forgive himself for letting the family fall into such hardship, a fact that still causes her great heartache.
Beyond financial strain, Kim Se-in faced a series of personal tragedies. She revealed that her mother suddenly collapsed due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage (ruptured brain aneurysm) and has been in a coma in a nursing hospital for 15 years. To make matters worse, during her time in the entertainment industry, she had conflicts with her agency and accused the company’s CEO of repeatedly taking her to hostess bars and other entertainment venues for business engagements. This left her physically and mentally exhausted, ultimately leading her to decide to leave the entertainment world.
After leaving Korea, Kim Se-in worked as a tour guide in Malaysia, planning to start a new life there. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to return to Korea. Upon her return, another tragedy struck: her father passed away suddenly from a myocardial infarction two years ago.
During the program, she tearfully stroked a bracelet left by her father, saying, “Dad left too suddenly. All that remains now are photos and this bracelet.” She also shared that her father, wherever he went, would proudly introduce her, saying, “This is my daughter, the entertainer.”
She also recounted a promise she made with her father: once her career was successful, they would move to a detached house in the countryside, raise rabbits and chickens, and live a leisurely life. After his passing, she moved into a monthly rental townhouse in the suburbs and began adopting stray animals, including dogs, hoping to fulfill the promise she made with her father.
Currently, Kim Se-in cares for 15 stray animals. She still takes on occasional advertisements, dramas, and films, but the income is insufficient to support her life. Therefore, she also works part-time as a delivery driver to supplement her income. She admitted, “Although I still film commercials, dramas, and movies, the income from these alone is not enough. To feed my 15 children, I have no choice but to work tirelessly.”
Despite enduring numerous hardships, Kim Se-in has not given up on her acting dream. She expressed her hope to return to the entertainment industry in the future with a healthier body and mindset, stating, “I want to bring more diverse performances to everyone with a healthier body and a stronger heart,” showcasing her determination to make a fresh start.
