Kim Soo-hyun Addresses Allegations in Press Conference Following Kim Sae-ron’s Tragic Passing
On March 31, 2025, Kim Soo-hyun, the actor from the highly anticipated series Queen of Tears, convened a live press conference to discuss serious allegations regarding his relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron. The event took place at a hotel in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, with his legal representative, attorney Kim Jong-bok from LKBN Partners, by his side.
Respectful Remembrance and Clarifications on Relationship Timeline
Beginning the session, Kim Soo-hyun conveyed his heartfelt condolences for Kim Sae-ron’s untimely passing. He expressed profound respect for her, noting that their relationship spanned from the summer of 2019 until fall 2020, a period when she was legally an adult.
Denial of Manipulated Evidence
According to a report by Korean JoongAng Daily, Kim Soo-hyun refuted claims that chat screenshots released by Kim Sae-ron’s family were accurate. He stated,
“The late actor’s family disclosed KakaoTalk conversation through a press conference. On that YouTube channel, they are framing me as a pa*dophile, accusing me of g**oming based on KakaoTalk chats we had in 2016.”
The actor highlighted that he and his agency, Gold Medalist, had requested an analysis to demonstrate that the conversations from 2016 and 2018 were conducted with another individual, not him.
“The person who is having the conversation with the late actor is different for the KakaoTalk chats made in 2016 and 2018. In order to prove this, I have requested an analysis of the KakaoTalk chat revealed by the late actor’s family in 2016, 2018, and this year. The agency showed that the chat made in 2016 and 2018 were made by different people.”
Relationship Admission Amidst Denials
During the conference, Kim Soo-hyun admitted to dating Kim Sae-ron in 2019, clarifying that their relationship was discreet due to their celebrity status. “The deceased and I dated for about a year,”he stated, confirming that they broke up in 2020. He recounted an incident in March 2024, when Kim Sae-ron posted an old intimate photo on Instagram. At that moment, he denied the relationship, primarily to protect the promotional campaign of his Netflix series.
Facing Accusations After a Tragic Incident
Following Kim Sae-ron’s tragic death by suicide on February 16, 2025, Kim Soo-hyun found himself the subject of severe allegations. He mentioned that since March 10, 2025, he has been portrayed as a “murderer”by the late actress’s family and supporters. He shared,
“It was the same when the deceased uploaded a picture taken with me during the ‘Queen of Tears’ Bae Young. However, I denied the relationship at the time. I think it’s natural to criticize my choice. I understand if you don’t believe what I’m saying about the things between me and the deceased.”
Concerns of Blackmail and Legal Action
Kim Soo-hyun asserted that he had been planning to clarify the allegations since they began surfacing. However, he remained silent to shield his family, his agency, and Kim Sae-ron’s memory from further damage. He expressed fear regarding potential attempts by her family to manipulate him into admitting false claims against him.
“I’m scared of how the bereaved family will blackmail and bully me to admit the false claim after the press conference. I have people whom I need to take responsibility for. Human Kim Soohyun and Star Kim Soohyun’s life and more. My people are suffering.”
Legal Actions Against Allegations
As the event wrapped up, attorney Kim Jong-bok announced that legal actions had been initiated against Kim Sae-ron’s family and the Garosero YouTube channel, seeking approximately 12 billion won (around $8.17 million) in damages for both criminal and civil cases.