The Korean entertainment industry is mourning the heartbreaking loss of actress Kang Seo Ha, who passed away in the early hours of July 14, 2025, after a prolonged and private battle with cancer. At only 31, she leaves behind not just a legacy of powerful performances but a deep void in the hearts of fans and colleagues alike. Her funeral proceedings are currently being held at Room 8 of the funeral hall at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital in Banpo-dong. The official funeral ceremony is set to take place at 7:40 AM on July 16, after which her remains will be cremated at Seoul Memorial Park. She will be laid to rest at her family’s burial site in Haman, South Gyeongsang Province, surrounded by those who loved and cherished her.
Even during the final stages of her illness, Kang Seo Ha remained fiercely devoted to her craft. Despite her declining health, she continued to act with grace and discipline, wrapping up her final film project, In the Net, alongside actors Kim Seon Ho and Park Gyu Young. Those who worked with her speak of her professionalism and radiant spirit, sharing memories of how she maintained her warmth and optimism even when things were tough. Social media platforms have since become spaces of shared mourning, as her colleagues, friends, and fans flood her pages with tributes. The messages speak not only of sorrow but also of admiration—people are remembering her as someone whose presence was gentle but deeply impactful.
Kang Seo Ha’s career began with small but memorable steps. After graduating from the Korea National University of Arts’ School of Drama, she entered the entertainment scene in 2012 through the music video for Brave Guys’ Growing Distant. Her official acting debut came soon after, in the JTBC drama Seonam Girls High School Investigators. From there, she gradually built an impressive body of work, balancing leading and supporting roles across various major networks. Her notable television credits include Assembly (KBS), The Flower in Prison (MBC), First Love, Again and Waves, Waves (both KBS), Heart Surgeons and Nobody Knows (SBS). Across each of these roles, her performances stood out for their emotional nuance and naturalism, earning her quiet yet consistent praise from critics and viewers.
In 2023, she took a hopeful leap in her career by signing an exclusive contract with Insight MCN, a newly formed agency born out of a collaboration between Insight Entertainment and Showtime Crew. The move was seen as a fresh chapter for the actress, one that promised more visibility and growth. Tragically, it became a chapter that she was unable to fully realize. Still, the decision reflected her enduring drive to evolve and connect with wider audiences, even as she faced immense personal struggles behind the scenes.
The loss of Kang Seo Ha resonates far beyond the screen. She wasn’t just a promising actress, but a person who, by all accounts, embodied kindness, strength, and humility. Her resilience throughout her illness and her unwavering commitment to her passion are being remembered with great reverence. Those who knew her describe a soul that was both tender and strong, someone who left lasting impressions not with spectacle, but with sincerity. The entertainment world has lost a shining star far too soon, and the grief being shared is a testament to just how loved she was.