Controversy Surrounds Kim Soo-hyun’s Denial of Allegations
In a significant development reported by Star News on April 1, 2025, actor Kim Soo-hyun categorically rejected the validity of purported KakaoTalk messages exchanged with the late actress Kim Sae-ron during a press conference on March 31. The situation has sparked public debate over the authenticity of the analytical methods employed by the company that examined these messages.
Dating Allegations Resurface
Kim Soo-hyun finds himself at the center of a dating scandal involving Kim Sae-ron, who was a minor at the time of the alleged relationship. During the press conference held in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, the actor firmly contested the claims linking him romantically to Sae-ron before she reached adulthood.
Claims from Kim Sae-ron’s family suggested that the two had been involved since 2015, when she was just 15 years old and he was 27. However, Kim Soo-hyun clarified that their romantic relationship only began in 2019, when she had reached the age of consent.
Defending Against Serious Allegations
During his press conference, Kim Soo-hyun addressed allegations made by the actress’s family, which accused him of grooming minors. He firmly stated that he was not responsible for the messages in question. To establish his innocence, he provided chat records from 2016 and 2018 to a verification agency.
“They are framing me as a ‘ped*phil*’ and ‘gr**ming minors’ using the 2016 KakaoTalk remarks as evidence. The individuals communicating on KakaoTalk in 2016 and 2018 are different. I submitted my chats from these years to a verification agency to prove this fact,”the actor stated, according to translations by Kpop Charts.
Despite presenting this scientific evidence, public skepticism persists regarding his assertions.
Credibility of Analysis Under Scrutiny
Kim Soo-hyun referenced the analysis carried out by Truebaum, an agency directed by Kim Mi-young, who has a history in the Scientific Investigation Bureau of the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office. However, past controversies surrounding Kim Mi-young’s analysis—including her mischaracterization of Jo Joo-bin, a figure linked to the notorious Nth Room scandal—have led to increased scrutiny of Truebaum’s credibility.
Profiler Questions Analysis Validity
In light of these developments, profiler Bae Sung-hoon has voiced his own concerns regarding the reliability of Truebaum’s KakaoTalk message analysis. He deemed the analysis “sloppy”and shared his insights through a video discussing the statements made at the press conference.
Bae criticized Kim Soo-hyun’s narrative, suggesting that the actor’s focus appeared to be on preserving his public image rather than showing true remorse for the deceased. He remarked on the actor claiming he acted to protect those close to him, labeling this response as mere self-justification.
“Kim Soo-hyun’s emphasis on his status as a ‘star’ reveals his motivations—ultimately, it’s just self-justification,”Bae stated, as translated by Koreaboo.
He further indicated that the analysis produced by the actor’s team involved questionable methodologies, particularly with four analysts, including Kim Mi-young, whose previous work has faced backlash.
Bae also pointed out that analyzing such messages is inherently complex, hence leading to varied interpretations. He expressed skepticism regarding the assertion that 92% of the content analyzed was invalid, suggesting the potential for misleading conclusions.
Legal Repercussions
Amid this turmoil, Kim Soo-hyun has also initiated a significant legal response, filing a lawsuit for damages amounting to 12 billion won against the Garosero Research Institute and the bereaved family of Kim Sae-ron.