On March 18, 2025, the South Korean news outlet Hankyung reported that the family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron plans to conduct digital forensics on historical photographs. Their objective is to validate their assertion that Kim Soo-hyun was in a romantic relationship with Kim Sae-ron when she was still a minor. However, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, has categorically rejected these allegations. The family expressed disappointment following the agency’s denial, noting that they had anticipated an apology.
In light of this denial, Kim Sae-ron’s family has decided to proceed with the forensic analysis of photos that they believe will substantiate their claims. A representative from the family indicated their intention to confirm the authenticity of the images and possibly release video evidence showing Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun together during their alleged relationship.
This footage may be showcased through the YouTube channel Garosero Institute, which has been linked to the actress’s family. They expressed their sentiments in a statement:
“We were hoping for an apology, so we are disappointed. We have decided to conduct a digital forensics analysis of photos that can prove that Kim Sae-ron dated Kim Soo-hyun when she was a minor.”
Additionally, the family criticized communications from Kim Soo-hyun’s representatives, noting a suggestion to use Telegram for discussions instead of KakaoTalk. They also addressed what they view as an inappropriate gesture from the agency: a funeral wreath sent to Kim Sae-ron’s memorial. Furthermore, they clarified that it was an agency employee who attended the memorial service, not Kim Soo-hyun himself.
The family’s argument centered around the length of the relationship, suggesting that, given their purported closeness, Kim Soo-hyun should have made a personal appearance. They stated:
“The agency released a photo saying that they sent a wreath to the deceased’s funeral, but it was an employee, not Kim Soo-hyun, who came and went. The two were a long-time couple, so shouldn’t Kim Soo-hyun have come?”
Understanding the Kim Sae-ron & Kim Soo-hyun Controversy
The controversy came to light on March 10, 2025, when the Garosero Institute alleged that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron had a romantic relationship spanning six years. Tragically, Kim Sae-ron passed away on February 16, coinciding with Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday, which further intensified public interest in their alleged history. Following this, the Garosero Institute uploaded videos suggesting connections between the actress’s family and the channel.
The video content claimed that the couple began dating in 2015 when Kim Sae-ron was just 15 years old. To support their claims, various photographs and text messages were purportedly presented as evidence.
In stark contrast, Gold Medalist insisted that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were only involved from mid-2019 to late 2020, by which time Kim Sae-ron had already reached adulthood.
Additionally, Gold Medalist defended Kim Soo-hyun against accusations of attempting to diminish Kim Sae-ron’s reputation. They denied collusion with YouTuber Lee Jin-ho to circulate negative stories and also rebutted allegations of using actress Seo Yea-ji to deflect attention from the ongoing situation. Notably, Seo Yea-ji had faced her own controversies related to accusations of school bullying, leading to the severing of ties with both Kim Soo-hyun and Gold Medalist.
The narrative escalated as Kim Sae-ron’s family revealed that Kim Soo-hyun had issued two certified legal notices seeking repayment of debts, which they interpreted as an intimidation tactic. In response, Gold Medalist clarified that no damage claims had been filed and emphasized that the second notice was a standard procedural communication regarding payment arrangements.