On March 10, 2025, Star News published troubling accusations against acclaimed actor Kim Soo-hyun, known for his roles in popular dramas such as It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and Ordinary Day. The claims came from the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, which alleged that Kim dated the late Kim Sae-ron when she was just 15 years old. This revelation emerged shortly after Kim Sae-ron’s untimely death, raising significant questions about the nature of their relationship and Kim Soo-hyun’s conduct.
Kim Sae-ron, a rising star known for her performance in the series Bloodhounds, was tragically found deceased in her apartment on February 16, 2025. She was only 24 years old, and authorities have classified her death as a suicide.
Following these events, Garosero Research Institute conducted an interview with Kim Sae-ron’s aunt, Kim Se-ui, who alleged that Kim Soo-hyun began dating Sae-ron in 2015. At that time, Kim Soo-hyun was 27, raising serious ethical concerns regarding their relationship. The claims suggested a prolonged association of six years that ended shortly before the actress’s death.
In light of these allegations, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, issued a firm rebuttal. They rejected the claims from Garosero, stating that the accusations were fabricated and designed to damage the actor’s reputation.
“Garosero Research Institute claimed that our company and actor Kim Soo-hyun colluded with YouTuber Lee Jin-ho to harass the late actress Kim Sae-ron. They claimed that the late actress Kim Sae-ron had dated Kim Soo-hyun since she was 15. They claimed that our agency handled the late actress Kim Sae-ron’s drunk driving accident unfairly, and claimed that our manager was close with YouTuber Lee Jin-ho.”
Gold Medalist further announced its intention to pursue legal action against those propagating the damaging rumors.
“However, all of these are false facts that we can absolutely not overlook, and our company plans to consider taking the strongest possible legal action against Garosero Research Institute for spreading false facts. We are heartbroken by the news of the death of the late actress Kim Sae-ron, who was once with our company, and we mourn the deceased.”
Controversies Surrounding Kim Sae-ron’s Agency and Financial Struggles
As reported by Koreaboo on March 10, 2025, Gold Medalist, which was established by Kim Soo-hyun in 2019, became embroiled in further controversy following Garosero’s assertions. The channel claimed that Kim Sae-ron, who reportedly ended her contract with YG Entertainment to join Gold Medalist due to their relationship, had provided invaluable assistance to the agency, including free acting classes and talent scouting.
Critical to the timeline of events is an incident that transpired on May 18, 2022, when Kim Sae-ron was involved in a serious DUI incident that led to significant legal and financial consequences. Following the crash in Seoul’s Gangnam District, where she collided with several structures, Gold Medalist purportedly offered to help manage her case, settling approximately 700 million KRW (about $480,324) in damages.
According to statements from her aunt, Kim Se-ui, the late actress was grateful to Kim Soo-hyun for his support during her DUI challenges and hoped to repay him in the future.
“[She] said she would still like to work hard so she could pay him back eventually.”
However, after Kim Sae-ron’s contract with Gold Medalist expired in 2024, she was unexpectedly hit with a demand to repay the 700 million KRW. This financial burden weighed heavily on her, contributing to her financial struggles and emotional distress.
In a bid for reconciliation, Kim Sae-ron even posted an old photo of herself with Kim Soo-hyun on social media, hoping to initiate contact, especially as his new drama, Queen of Tears, was gaining popularity on Netflix.
Alas, instead of reaching out, Gold Medalist served her yet another notice alleging reputational damage. The circumstances surrounding her death broke hearts and brought renewed attention to the pressures of fame.
On March 11, 2025, News18 reported further claims by her aunt, who stated that the late actress had been “struggling financially,”which contributed to her tragic decision.
“Not being able to pay back the ₩700 million KRW, Kim Sae-ron was struggling financially, which led her to commit suicide on Soo-hyun’s birthday.”
In related news, the Seoul Central District Court had imposed a fine of 20 million KRW (around $13,715) on the actress in 2023 for her DUI incident. Faced with accumulating debts, Kim Sae-ron had reportedly taken part-time work at local cafés to manage her financial obligations.