On March 12, 2025, Kbizoom revealed a poignant coincidence: the passing of actress Kim Sae-ron occurred on the same day as actor Kim Soo-hyun’s 37th birthday. This tragic event has reignited discussions surrounding a rumored past romantic involvement between the two.
The 24-year-old Kim Sae-ron was discovered deceased in her Seoul residence on February 16, 2025. Officials have stated there were no indications of foul play and have classified her death as a s*icide. Kim started her entertainment journey as a child model in 2001, eventually attaining fame with notable roles in acclaimed films such as A Brand New Life (2009) and The Man from Nowhere (2010).
However, the trajectory of her career faced significant hurdles after a drunken driving incident in May 2022, which resulted in widespread public criticism and legal repercussions. Despite her attempts at a comeback, including completing the film Guitar Man in late 2024, Kim struggled with escalating financial and personal issues leading up to her untimely death.
Allegations Surface Against Kim Soo-hyun
The YouTube channel Garosero, recognized for its investigative reporting, aired a controversial piece on March 10, 2025, accusing Kim Soo-hyun of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with Kim Sae-ron while she was underage.
According to the allegations, the relationship allegedly commenced in 2015 when Kim Soo-hyun was 27 and Kim Sae-ron was just 15. The segment featured an interview with Kim Sae-ron’s aunt, who corroborated claims of their past connection, asserting that it adversely impacted the actress’s mental well-being and career trajectory.
The aunt expressed concern about the existing power imbalances within the entertainment industry, particularly the pressure imposed on Kim Sae-ron. She revealed that Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, had initially offered 700 million won (approximately $481,627.63) to cover damages following Kim Sae-ron’s DUI incident in 2022. However, by March 2024, the agency had unexpectedly sent her a legal notice demanding debt clearance.
Notably, the aunt emphasized that the actress reached out to Kim Soo-hyun for support, only to receive no response to her attempts at communication. Furthermore, in April 2024, Kim Sae-ron shared an old photograph of herself with the actor on Instagram, which she later deleted—an act her aunt interpreted as a desperate bid for attention from Kim Soo-hyun.
On March 11, 2025, Kbizoom reported that Kim Sae-ron texted Kim Soo-hyun on March 19, 2024, urgently requesting additional time to manage her outstanding debts. The message surfaced in a screenshot provided by Garosero, wherein she articulated her struggles:
“Oppa, it’s Sae-ron. I received the certification, and they [Gold Medalist] said they are going to sue me. They told me they would give me plenty of time, so I’ve been working hard to prepare for my comeback, and I plan to repay a percentage from each project little by little.”
She continued to plead:
“I’m not saying I won’t pay, but if you demand 700 million won right now, I really can’t do it. It’s not that I refuse to pay, I just can’t afford it at the moment. But do I really have to go through a lawsuit? Please save me… Please, give me some time.”
In a related development, media outlet Dispatch reported on March 12, 2025, that they had sought comments from Gold Medalist in February 2025 regarding the rationale behind issuing the debt notice to Kim Sae-ron. The agency clarified they “had no intentions of receiving money from Kim Sae-ron,”claiming they only followed standard procedures to prevent possible malpractice allegations.
“We had no intentions of receiving money from Kim Sae-ron. We thought we wouldn’t get it. We only followed basic procedures because there could have been a case of malpractice brought up,”the company stated.
Dispatch further inquired whether Kim Sae-ron had been informed that the notice was merely procedural, to which the agency responded that Kim had not been advised of this. They mentioned that Kim’s manager had been in contact with her during that time, emphasizing the need for documentation.
“From what we know, her manager got in contact with her at that time. We needed the documents for it,”Gold Medalist stated.
The family of Kim Sae-ron, through the Garosero platform, claimed they possess over 200 photographs that could substantiate allegations of a relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and the actress while she was a minor. Additionally, they urged for an official apology from the actor for allegedly engaging in the relationship.