On March 10, a revealing exposé regarding the romantic life of the late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron surfaced on the internet, thanks to a report from the Garosero Research Institute’s YouTube channel. Making her acting debut at the tender age of nine, Kim showcased her talents in the film A Brand New Life, a narrative loosely inspired by her own experiences.
According to Star News, the YouTube investigation disclosed that Kim Sae-ron was involved in a romantic relationship with fellow actor Kim Soo-hyun. The video claimed they began dating when she was just 15, despite their notable twelve-year age difference. This relationship reportedly continued for over six years.
The relationship is said to have ended amid the turmoil surrounding Kim Sae-ron’s DUI incident and car accident in 2022. Kim Soo-hyun and his management team reportedly assisted Sae-ron by covering the compensation fees, which amounted to approximately 700 million KRW. Allegedly, there have been recent demands from Kim Sae-ron regarding the repayment of this substantial sum in 2024.
Tragically, the video suggested that the stress related to her financial obligations, coupled with other pressures, led the actress to contemplate suicide on February 16, 2025, coincidentally on Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday.
Understanding the Alleged Relationship Between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron
To provide context, Kim Sae-ron was found dead in her apartment on February 16, 2025, at the age of 24, with authorities ruling the case as suicide. The recent revelations regarding her past relationship with Kim Soo-hyun have reignited public interest and scrutiny.
The Garosero Research Institute’s YouTube segment noted that Kim Sae-ron joined Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, in 2019, shortly following the agency’s establishment. This came after her departure from YG Entertainment. Their relationship, which lasted from 2015 to 2021, reportedly ended due to the fallout from Sae-ron’s DUI case, during which Kim Soo-hyun and his agency stepped in to manage the financial repercussions.
The YouTube report indicated that Kim Sae-ron had expressed her appreciation for the assistance provided by Kim Soo-hyun, vowing to repay the 700 million KRW compensation. However, tension began to rise post the expiration of her contract with Gold Medalist when the repayment issue was brought up in 2024.
Additionally, the report claimed that when Kim Sae-ron attempted to reach out to Kim Soo-hyun to clarify the financial matter, he did not respond. Allegations also emerged suggesting that either he or his agency had leaked her personal contact information to journalists, resulting in an inundation of spam calls directed at her. In a bid to elicit a reaction from Soo-hyun, she shared a nostalgic photo of them together while his K-drama series, Queen of Tears, aired. The image, however, was soon deleted.
The photo, showing the two with their cheeks pressed together, sparked suspicions that it was an old snapshot, as both appeared significantly younger. Following these events, Garosero Research Institute reported that both Kim Soo-hyun and his agency denied the dating allegations.
Concluding their findings, the YouTube report speculated that Kim Sae-ron may have taken her life due to her inescapable financial struggles. Moreover, the Garosero Research Institute asserted that they possess additional evidence, including more photographs of the couple, that they intend to reveal shortly.