On March 11, 2025, the YouTube channel Garosero (@HOVERLAB2018) stirred considerable controversy by claiming that BTS was sent to the military as a result of the alleged relationship between the late actress Kim Sae-ron and actor Kim Soo-hyun. This claim surfaced alongside accusations surrounding Kim Soo-hyun dating Kim Sae-ron when she was just a minor.
Sources indicate that Kim Soo-hyun, who gained fame from “Queen of Tears,”was accused of starting a relationship with 15-year-old Kim Sae-ron in 2015 when he was 27. It has been asserted that their alleged romance persisted until 2022, concluding after Kim Sae-ron was involved in a DUI incident. During their time together, Kim Soo-hyun founded his entertainment agency, Gold Medalist, in 2019.
According to claims made by Sae-ron’s aunt, Kim Sae-ron contributed to the agency without compensation and offered acting lessons to newcomers, aimed at supporting her boyfriend’s business.
As the allegations gained traction, Gold Medalist issued a warning to Garosero about the potential legal ramifications of disseminating what they described as defamatory rumors. In a counterattack, Garosero’s representative Kim Se-ui claimed they would file charges against Kim Soo-hyun for purportedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor.
In a particularly provocative statement, Garosero dragged BTS into their narrative, contending that if BTS could face military conscription, so could Kim Soo-hyun.
“Kim Soo-hyun must not know who Kim Se-ui from Garosero Research Institute is, LOL. Legal action, huh? Even the oh-so-great world star BTS once threatened legal action against Garosero. What was the outcome? All of them went off to enslit. So, what can Kim Soo-hyun do? He’s a mere Hallyu star who’s only popular in China.”
Garosero continued their aggressive rhetoric:
“We dare you to try pulling that ‘legal action’ stunt on the bereaved, too. LOL. And sometime tomorrow, you can expect a report to be filed against you for the charge of having s*x with a minor. Dating an 8th grader?! We sure hope you didn’t actually have s*x with her.”
Allegations Regarding Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron’s Relationship
In the reported discussions from Garosero Research Institute, it was alleged that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron initiated their relationship when Sae-ron was only 15.
The aunt further alleged that after Kim Sae-ron’s DUI case, Kim Soo-hyun lent her 700 million KRW but later issued her a formal debt notice, adding to her distress during the turbulent time.
On May 18, 2022, Kim Sae-ron faced a serious legal ordeal when she was involved in a drunk-driving incident in Seoul’s Gangnam District. The incident resulted in her crashing into a transformer and several street fixtures, causing extensive power outages that affected numerous businesses for several hours. Following her acknowledgment of the event, Gold Medalist expressed deep remorse for her actions.
“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 also alleged that our agency mishandled the late actress Kim Sae-ron’s drunk-driving incident and that our manager had close ties with YouTuber Lee Jin-ho.”
Gold Medalist highlighted its commitment to addressing the damages resulting from the accident and denied the false claims circulating about their conduct.
“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.”
As a consequence of her DUI, Kim Sae-ron was fined 20 million KRW (approximately $13,715) and paid 700 million KRW (around $480,324) in damages to the affected businesses, which was covered by her agency.
The fallout from this incident was swift; she faced public backlash, leading her to withdraw from the SBS drama “Trolley,”and Netflix opted to halt any further filming of scenes featuring her in the series “Bloodhounds,”resulting in her character being written off entirely.
Facing overwhelming negative public reaction, Kim Sae-ron reportedly took on part-time jobs to support herself. Tragically, on February 16, 2025, she was discovered deceased by a friend. The investigation into her death concluded it as a suicide. A private funeral service took place on February 19 at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul.
Kim Sae-ron was just 24 years old at the time of her passing.