Korean actress Kim Sae-ron has stopped filming for the Netflix drama “Hunting Dogs” after her drunk driving incident that caused a power outage and affected business establishments in Gangnam, Seoul.
In addition, her insurance will pay for the damage she caused when she rammed and destroyed a transformer with her SUV.
Last May 18, Kim Sae-ron was driving in Cheongdam, Gangnam in Seoul when she crashed and hit a guardrail, tree and a transformer.
After the incident, she drove away but was caught by the police. She refused to take a breathalyzer and asked the police for her to undergo a blood alcohol test and was taken to a nearby hospital. The results of her blood test will be known after several days.
“Hunting Dogs” will star Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Park Sung-woong, Kim Sae-ron and Heo Jun-ho.
Netflix told Korean media that "after discussion with the production team, actors, and Netflix, actress Kim Sae-ron has decided not to participate in the scheduled filming."
Before her drunk driving incident, Kim Sae-ron has finished most of the filming for the drama.
“Editing of the existing filming is currently under discussion with the production team. The overall production of the drama is still in full swing. We will tell you as soon as possible when the release date is confirmed,” Netflix was quoted as saying.
Before this, Kim Sae-ron withdrew from the SBS drama “Trolley” because of her incident.
Meanwhile, Kim Sae-ron’s insurance company has talked to the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), which owns the transformer that she rammed and damaged.
A KEPCO official told Korean media Maeil Business Star on May 23 that "I got a call from the insurance company, not Kim Sae-ron. I was asked about the repair cost and explained that it was around 20 million won ."
"I gave an answer at the level of information about repair costs, not the 'agreement' reported by some. The repair cost of the transformer is estimated to be around 20 million won, but the exact amount has not been confirmed,” the rep said.
Kim Sae-ron is reportedly in talks with the merchants around the area of the incident regarding compensation. When she rammed the transformer, electricity was cut off for about three to four hours, affecting business establishments.
The police previously told Korean media that “Kim Sae-ron was so drunk that she couldn’t even speak properly” when she was caught after the incident.
Under the Korean law Road Traffic Act, “The threshold for the state of intoxication at which a person is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle, etc. pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be not less than 0.03 percent of blood-alcohol concentration.”
Kim Sae-ron issued a public apology on May 19 and admitted driving under the influence.
“I’m sorry to inform you of my position late after organizing the accident and damage situation first,” she said.
She added, “At the time, I had made a major mistake while under the influence of alcohol. With my wrong judgment and actions, I have caused damage to so many people, including merchants in the surrounding shopping malls, citizens, and restoration workers.”
“I should have acted more cautiously and responsibly, but I couldn’t. I sincerely apologize. The damage caused by the accident is being dealt with with the company, and we will do our best to communicate and actively resolve the matter until the end,” she said.
According to Kim Sae-ron, “Also, I am very sorry to my fellow actors and staff, as well as the production team, for the disruption to the production of the work being filmed and the work being prepared. Once again, I deeply apologize and apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
“There is no excuse for this unfortunate incident, and I am disappointed and so ashamed of myself for the wrongs I have committed. I will reflect deeply so that this does not happen again. I am sorry,” she said.