Kim Sae-ron’s Family Addresses Financial Allegations and Ongoing Controversy
The family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron has categorically denied rumors suggesting she faced financial difficulties related to her hospital bills and required monetary assistance from friends. On March 25, Kwon Young-chan, the head of the Korea Celebrities Suicide Prevention Association, spoke out on this matter during an interview with Newsis, a prominent South Korean news outlet.
Kwon firmly rebuffed the circulating allegations, emphasizing that Kim’s family bore the majority of her medical expenses throughout her treatment process.
“We directly contacted Kim Sae-ron’s mother and other bereaved family members. Kim Sae-ron never asked anyone to pay for her hospital bills, and her family mostly paid for them,”he explained.
According to Kwon, Kim Sae-ron received medical treatment on 20 occasions during her life, with her parents covering 18 of those visits. The remaining two hospitalizations were funded by the CEO of her agency. Kwon highlighted that Kim refrained from informing her family about these financial arrangements due to feelings of guilt and a desire to avoid worrying them.
“Kim Sae-ron received hospital treatment 20 times while she was alive. Her parents paid for 18 of those hospital bills. The CEO of Kim Sae-ron’s agency paid for the remaining 2. This is because Kim Sae-ron felt sorry for her mother and was afraid of causing worry to her family, so she did not tell them about the hospital bills.”
Kwon also dismissed assertions made by YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, who had claimed that a personal acquaintance had settled Kim’s hospital expenses.
“Mr. Lee Jin-ho said that his friend, the director, paid for everything, but that’s a lie. The CEO of the agency paid for everything,”Kwon stated.
Furthermore, Kwon provided insight into the costs associated with medical procedures related to self-harm. He clarified that while some treatments are covered by insurance, not all expenses are eligible:
“Usually, the surgery costs 200,000 to 400,000 won. It varies depending on the condition, but a micro-suturing surgery at a plastic surgery clinic costs 1 to 2 million won. I directly contacted four hospitals in Gangnam, Seoul. They said that at most, the cost will not exceed 2 million won. I also contacted the hospitals in question to confirm.”
Defamation Lawsuit Filed Against YouTuber
Following Lee Jin-ho’s claims, which were made during a video on March 24, the bereaved family took legal action against him, filing a defamation lawsuit on March 17. Lee had alleged that Kim Sae-ron was experiencing severe financial troubles stemming from repeated suicide attempts, with each hospital visit reportedly costing about 5 million KRW (approximately 3,400 USD).
Lee asserted that her agency had lent money to cover these medical costs, claiming Kim indicated she needed surgery for injuries—specifically torn ligaments and tendons—that were not covered by insurance. He even shared an alleged audio recording of Kim discussing her medical condition and expenses.
According to the family’s legal representative, Attorney Bu Ji-seok from Buyu Law Firm, Lee’s public statements contributed significantly to the exacerbation of Kim’s mental health struggles while she was alive, labelling the information he spread as false.
Attorney Bu further argued that Lee’s videos portrayed the actress negatively and claimed that he also misrepresented her rumored connection with actor Kim Soo-hyun. Notably, there is concern that Lee made all his videos private shortly after Kim Sae-ron’s passing, an action the family claims aims to destroy evidence. In light of these developments, they have requested a formal investigation.
Tragically, Kim Sae-ron was discovered deceased in her residence in Seoul on February 16 at the age of 25. Amid the fallout and speculation surrounding her death, her family has also made allegations regarding her supposed relationship with Kim Soo-hyun.
In a broadcast featuring the Garo Sero Research Institute on March 10, 2025, the family claimed that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron had been in a romantic relationship from 2015 to 2021. They alleged that Kim Sae-ron was only 15 at the onset of their relationship, while Kim Soo-hyun was 27.
However, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, has firmly denied these allegations, branding them baseless and indicating their intention to pursue legal action. In an attempt to substantiate their claims, the family produced private messages, letters, and several photos of the pair together.
The agency later acknowledged that the two had a relationship but refuted the claim of any underage dating, asserting that Kim Sae-ron was legally considered an adult during their time together.
The public dispute escalated when the Garo Sero Research Institute aired a purported private photo of Kim Soo-hyun in Kim Sae-ron’s home, leading his legal team to file a criminal complaint against both the channel’s operator and the family for violating laws pertaining to sexual crimes.
According to Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, the photo constituting the offense was shared without consent and intended for sexual humiliation. On March 24, LKB & Partners criticized the Garo Sero Research Institute for their actions, expressing their commitment to defend Kim Soo-hyun’s rights vigorously.
Despite ongoing legal matters, Ga Se-yeon has persisted in broadcasting further claims.