On March 11, 2025, Kbizoom reported disturbing claims from the family of the deceased actress Kim Sae-ron. Her relatives allege that she had an intimate relationship with the prominent actor Kim Soo-hyun.
According to information shared by the Garosero Research Institute’s YouTube channel, Sae-ron’s family claims to have in their possession 200 personal photographs of her with Kim Soo-hyun. They are reportedly planning to release these images and pursue legal action against him for alleged indecency and misconduct, stating that these events transpired when Sae-ron was a minor.
This revelation ignited a firestorm of discussion on Chinese social media, particularly on Weibo, where netizens pointed to supposed evidence of a romantic relationship between the two actors when Sae-ron was just 16. An old photograph of the pair, appearing close together, resurfaced during this uproar.
Kbizoom highlighted that this particular image was captured during an advertisement for the ZUK smartphone, and was initially leaked in April 2024 after Kim Sae-ron shared it in an Instagram story. Coincidentally, at that time, Kim Soo-hyun starred in the Netflix drama Queen of Tears alongside Kim Ji-won.
On March 10, 2025, Koreaboo reported statements made by Sae-ron’s aunt to the Garosero Research Institute. She claimed that the actress had shared the photograph as a means to prompt Kim Soo-hyun to reach out to her after he served her with a debt notice demanding 700 million won (approximately $481,647.51).
Claims of a Troubled Relationship: Kim Soo-hyun’s Agency Responds
The controversy deepened when the Garosero Research Institute released a video featuring the aunt of the late actress, where she claimed Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun were involved in a romantic relationship from 2015 to 2022. This timeline suggests their relationship began when Sae-ron was only 15 years old and Kim Soo-hyun was 27.
The aunt further noted that after the establishment of Kim Soo-hyun’s label, Gold Medalist, in 2019, Kim Sae-ron transitioned from YG Entertainment to join his agency. Additionally, she alleged that following Sae-ron’s DUI incident in 2022, Kim Soo-hyun provided her with 700 million won to cover expenses, later requesting repayment, which intensified her financial woes.
Gold Medalist swiftly denied these claims, issuing a statement that sought to protect the reputations of both Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress, announcing plans for legal action against the Garosero Research Institute for disseminating false information.
“All of these are false facts that we can absolutely not overlook. 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 Kim Sae-ron, who was once with our company, and we mourn the deceased.”
Despite Gold Medalist’s rebuttal, the Garosero Research Institute maintained its assertions, claiming to possess substantial evidence to validate its accusations. They even demanded a public apology from Kim Soo-hyun, stating:
“I hope Kim Soo-hyun will publicly apologize to Kim Sae-ron’s bereaved family and shut up before Garosero comes back with something even stronger.”
On March 11, 2025, Kbizoom published two additional images shared by Garosero, one depicting Kim Soo-hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek and another an alleged screenshot of a text message from Sae-ron expressing anguish over the lawsuit.
“Oppa, this is Sae Ron. I received the letter today that [your company] is suing me. You said that you would give me ample time, so I’m working hard to prepare for a comeback. I will pay you back from each of my works.”
The message contained a plea from Kim Sae-ron, questioning the necessity of escalating to legal action and requesting more time to address the substantial debt:
“I’m not saying that I won’t pay you back, but if you suddenly ask for ₩700 million KRW (around $480,000 USD) right now, I can’t do anything. Please save me… I beg you. Give me some time.”
In 2022, Kim Sae-ron faced severe professional and personal fallout from a DUI incident that deeply affected her career.
Tragically, on February 16, 2025, Kim Sae-ron was discovered deceased in her apartment, with authorities confirming the cause as suicide.