On March 14, 2025, Gold Medalist Entertainment confirmed the romantic involvement between actors Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron. The agency clarified that their relationship commenced only after Kim Sae-ron reached adulthood. In an official statement, Gold Medalist emphasized:
“Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron dated from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after Kim Sae-ron became an adult. It is not true that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor.”
This announcement comes in response to a controversy that arose from Kim Sae-ron’s Instagram Story on March 24, 2024, and the release of certain photos by the Garosero Research Institute (led by Ga Se-yeon) on March 11, 2025.
Gold Medalist clarified that the photographs in question were taken during winter 2020, when Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were in a relationship. They also pointed out that the outfit worn by the actress was released in June 2019, contradicting claims from a certain YouTube channel that the images were from 2016, thereby suggesting that the actress was underage at that time.
In their formal statement, the agency mentioned their intention to issue a comprehensive rebuttal the following week. However, they opted for an urgent update due to Kim Soo-hyun’s sudden emotional distress stemming from Ga Se-yeon’s broadcast.
Gold Medalist revealed that the acclaimed actor has been experiencing “extreme confusion”and “psychological instability”following allegations linking him to a tragic incident. They also noted the alarming presence of a vehicle equipped with cameras stationed across from their office store from the night of the accusations until the early hours of the following day.
The agency expressed regret over the rushed nature of their statement, stressing that their priority shifted to addressing misinformation and safeguarding Kim Soo-hyun’s mental well-being. They urged the public for understanding, highlighting the adverse effects of rampant rumors and intrusive media coverage on the actor’s life.
Garosero Research Institute Issues Ultimatum for Kim Soo-hyun’s Apology
On March 13, 2025, Garosero Research Institute, a popular YouTube channel, released a video claiming to possess “shirtless”photos and a video of Kim Soo-hyun “washing dishes”at Kim Sae-ron’s residence.
The channel demanded that Kim Soo-hyun issue a public apology to Kim Sae-ron’s family, threatening to unveil this material if the request is not met. They indicated that the evidence encompasses not only photographs but also video footage.
“We have a photo of someone shirtless and washing dishes at his girlfriend’s house. It’s not just a photo, there’s also a video. Next week, we plan to review someone’s statement of position and publish it,”Garosero asserted.
Garosero further referenced a tweet from 2016 in which Kim Sae-ron allegedly described her older counterpart as “Saero-Nero.”They claimed to have additional evidence including more photographs that corroborate the assertion of a prior relationship between the two actors.
Meanwhile, according to insiders, Kim Soo-hyun and Gold Medalist were in the process of preparing a formal response, but were compelled to expedite their release due to the actor’s ongoing “psychological instability.”This early disclosure aimed to mitigate further speculation and protect the actor’s image amidst rising tensions.