Renowned South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun finds himself at the center of controversy after the YouTube channel Garosero made allegations about his relationship with actress Kim Sae-ron, claiming they were romantically involved from 2015 until 2022. Tragically, Kim Sae-ron was discovered deceased in her apartment on February 16, 2025, a date that coincidentally marks Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday.
Kim Soo-hyun is widely recognized for his lead role in the hit Netflix series, Queen of Tears, which aired from March to April 2024. The controversy deepened as allegations surfaced that Kim Soo-hyun had leveraged his co-star, Kim Ji-won, to propagate dating rumors aimed at boosting the show’s popularity.
Current Endeavors of the Queen of Tears Cast: Updates on Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, and Others
Despite the recent allegations, Kim Soo-hyun has secured a prominent role in the upcoming Disney+ series Knock Off, set to premiere in the first half of 2025. This series will also feature popular actress Jo Bo-ah.
Meanwhile, in February 2025, the Times of India reported that Kim Ji-won is contemplating a significant role in the upcoming drama Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia. HighZium Studio, her agency, has confirmed that they will engage in negotiations should she decide to accept the part.
Park Sung-hoon, who played the antagonist in Queen of Tears, enjoyed a successful trajectory following the show. He was cast in the lead role in Netflix’s Squid Game 2, where he portrayed Hyun-ju, a transgender woman. However, in January 2025, he faced backlash for an inappropriate Instagram post, which led to him being dropped from the lead role in The Tyrant’s Chef alongside SNSD’s Yoona.
Kwak Dong-yeon portrayed Hong Hae-in’s brother in Queen of Tears and is noted for his work in popular series such as Big Mouth, It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, and Vincenzo. His character in Queen of Tears was a devoted husband, but the storyline revealed layers of familial conspiracies.
Lee Joo-bin, who played the role of Da-hye, was a character whose initial plotting against Hong Hae-in’s family ultimately transformed into love for Soo-cheol, revealing a complex narrative twist. For her performance, she received the Best Supporting Actress award at the Daejeon Special Film Festival. She is now part of the cast for the anticipated K-drama The Divorce Insurance, which stars Lee Dong-wook, Lee Kwang-soo, and Lee Da-hee, and is set to stream on TVING and select regions of Prime Video beginning March 31, 2025.
As the public awaits Kim Soo-hyun’s response to the ongoing scandal, his fellow cast members remain committed to advancing their careers. Queen of Tears continues to be available for streaming on Netflix, allowing audiences to enjoy the series amid the surrounding controversies.
In a related development, Mint News reported on March 15, 2025, that Kim Sae-ron’s family is demanding a formal apology from Kim Soo-hyun. They seek acknowledgment of his relationship with their daughter, which purportedly lasted six years while she was a minor, raising significant ethical concerns.