A shocking scandal has hit the Kdrama industry as Kim Soo Hyun faces explosive allegations of a romantic relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron who was reportedly a minor at the time.
Nearly one month after her death, a YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute made shocking accusations against the popular Kdrama actor. Netizens began piecing the clue after her death on February 16, coinciding with Kim Soo Hyun’s birthday.
The aforementioned YouTube continues to release new intimate photos and pieces of evidence related to their alleged relationship. For those unversed in the matter, here’s what happened so far.
Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun Dating Rumors
Kim Sae Ron fueled the dating rumors when the Kdrama “Queen of Tears” was airing on TVN and Netflix in March 2024. In the early hours of March 24 last year, the “Bloodhounds” actress shared an intimate photo with Soo Hyun, which she quickly deleted.
The photo spread like wildfire and his agency Gold Medalist had to release a statement to address the escalating rumors. At the time, the agency refuted the statement and called the rumors “baseless”. They even threatened to pursue legal action against anyone who spreads misinformation.
Regarding the photo, they explained that it was taken while they were labelmates and does not indicate a romantic relationship.
Immediately after the dating rumors ignited, Kim Sae Ron was approached for a statement. She revealed that she was preparing a statement, however, ultimately decided not to comment. The rumors died down eventually and the 37-year-old actor was linked to his “Queen of Tears” co-star Kim Ji Won. The drama became a phenomenon and concluded with a historic ratings shortly after the rumors surfaced.
Kim Sae Ron’s Death
Just as whispers of her acting comeback began to circulate, fans were stunned by the shocking news of Kim Sae Ron’s untimely death. The late actress was on hiatus since May 2022 when she was involved in a drunk driving incident.
Tragically, the 24-year-old actress passed away on February 16. Following her death, a police official stated on February 17 that Kim Sae Ron’s passing is believed to be a result of suicide, and the case is being treated as a death investigation. Her body was discovered at her Seongdong-gu residence in Seoul at approximately 4:45 PM on February 16 by a friend who had planned to meet her. The friend alerted the authorities immediately.
Since she took her life on Kim Soo Hyun’s birthday, there have been whispers of his possible connection with her untimely demise.
The Allegations
A YouTube video posted by the “Garosero Research Institute” on March 10 made a startling claim that Kim Sae Ron was in a six-year romantic relationship with Kim Soo Hyun. Their alleged relationship began when she was just 15 years old. The actress was in her third year of middle school, and their relationship lasted from November 2015 to July 2021.
As per the YT channel, her parents confirmed this information, and her aunt also shared her thoughts during the interview. Moreover, they claimed to have acquired a writing piece from Kim Sae Ron, dated March 24, 2024. In the statement to address dating allegations last year, she stated that rumors about her romance with Kim Soo Hyun were falsely reported as baseless.
On March 11, Garosero Research Institute released additional evidence such as text messages, and an intimate photo of the two. When Kim Sae Ron was involved in a drunk driving incident, the Gold Medalist paid 700 million won in damages.
They sent a certified letter to her demanding the repayment. Since Kim Sae Ron was on hiatus and could not afford to pay such a hefty amount at once, she texted Kim Soo Hyun and requested him to not go to court. The “Kiss Sixth Sense” actress also promised to pay the amount gradually, a percentage from each project. Notably, Kim Soo Hyun did not answer her back and she had to release the intimate photo in March 2024 in hopes that he would reach out to her.
Kim Sae Ron signed a 700 million won loan contract with Gold Medalist in November 2022. The loan was meant to cover the costs of her drunk driving incident in May 2022. However, she struggled to repay the loan by the December 2023 deadline due to financial difficulties and a stalled career. To address the issue, she reached out to Kim Soo Hyun, a founding member of Gold Medalist.
On March 12, Garosero Research Institute released another photo along with a love letter. Today, the YouTube channel shared a handwritten letter which was written by Kim Soo Hyun to Kim Sae Ron during his military service (October 2017 to July 2019). The channel also revealed a postcard he sent from Paris.
Response From Kim Soo Hyun’s Agency
When the first video was shared by the YouTube channel on March 10, Gold Medalist strongly refuted the claim stating that they were clearly false. They threatened to sue the operators of the channel for spreading misinformation.
Additionally, after more revelations were made by the YouTube channel the next day, the agency revealed that they would update soon.
On March 12, Gold Medalist stood by their initial statement and denied the allegation once again.
“Garosero claimed that our agency and Kim Soo Hyun colluded with a YouTuber to harass the late Kim Sae Ron. They also falsely claimed that Kim Sae Ron was in a romantic relationship with Kim Soo Hyun from the age of 15, that our agency handled Kim Sae Ron’s drunk driving incident unfairly, and that one of our managers is acquainted with the YouTuber. These are all completely false and malicious claims that we cannot ignore. We will take the strongest possible legal action against Garosero for spreading these false claims.”
Gold Medalist, March 12, 2025
Dispatch Report
Reputable Korean media outlet Dispatch also released an exclusive report on the escalating controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun.
Dispatch obtained a copy of the certification letter sent by Gold Medalist to Kim Sae Ron, demanding repayment of a 686,409,653 won loan by the end of 2023. With no resources, Sae Ron reached out to Kim Soo-hyun for help, but he did not respond. She then uploaded an intimate picture, indirectly asking him to contact her.
Gold Medalist claimed the letter was a mere formality to prevent embezzlement. However, she had already sold her car and investment profits to cover damages.
Dispatch also confirmed Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron’s relationship. A close source revealed that they could not make the relationship private since she was a minor.
Public Opinion
Public Opinion has shifted against Kim Soo Hyun after the latest allegations. His social media is flooded with hate comments, demanding justice for Kim Sae Ron.
Netizens are leaving harsh comments such as “you have to pay for the karma”, “go to jail”, “murderer”, “remove this child groomer”, and more. Critics are calling for a boycott and urging brands affiliated with Kim Soo Hyun to drop him as an endorser.
Kim Soo Hyun’s Upcoming Projects
While Disney+ confirmed that the filming of Season 2 continues and the press conference in April will continue as planned. It is expected that the streaming giant will reverse its decision as the public outrage grows.
Kim Soo Hyun is also a part of G-Dragon’s variety show “Good Day”. After the controversy, his filming schedule on March 13 is expected to be canceled. It is likely that he won’t appear on “Good Day” and other terrestrial entertainment programs due to the public backlash. MBC is considering editing his footage and recorded parts for the upcoming episodes from “Good Day”. A Jeju Air video featuring Kim Soo Hyun has also been made private after the growing backlash.
Lastly, more evidence about his alleged past relationship with Kim Sae Ron will be made public in the coming days. Criticism is expected to intensify and his flourishing acting career is going to take a hit.
