On March 25, 2025, Yonhap News announced the cancellation of Kim Soo-hyun’s fan meeting in Taiwan, originally scheduled for March 30. The decision follows the actor’s ongoing controversy, purportedly due to scheduling conflicts, although the timing has raised eyebrows.
The official cancellation notice was issued by 7-Eleven Taiwan through their social media channels. This fan event was anticipated to be a highlight of the 2025 Kaohsiung Cherry Blossom Festival.
In terms of financial implications, the cancellation penalty was reported to be 30 million Taiwanese dollars, equivalent to approximately $907,660 or around 1.3 billion KRW.
In their announcement, 7-Eleven Taiwan stated:
“The ‘Kim Soo-hyun fan meeting’ originally scheduled for March 30th has been canceled due to adjustments in the actor’s schedule preventing his attendance.”
The cancellation coincides with escalating allegations surrounding Kim Soo-hyun’s past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, who passed away on February 16, 2025. Following her tragic death, revelations emerged indicating a romantic involvement between the two, possibly starting when Kim Sae-ron was just 15 years old.
Context of the Allegations Involving Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron
Rumors regarding Kim Soo-hyun’s relationship with Kim Sae-ron first surfaced on March 10, 2025, when Kim Sae-ron’s aunt made claims on the Garosero YouTube channel. This included a statement suggesting that Kim Soo-hyun harbored intentions of marriage with Kim Sae-ron as she approached adulthood.
The aunt further accused Gold Medalist, the talent agency representing both actors, of exerting pressure on Kim Sae-ron to repay a significant debt of 700 million KRW (around $477,118). This debt was reportedly incurred when the agency covered her DUI damages in 2022, during the time both actresses were signed under the same agency until 2024.
It was revealed that Kim Sae-ron had received a legal notification from Gold Medalist regarding debt repayment in March 2024. Reports suggest that she sought to contact Kim Soo-hyun, aiming to shield herself from the agency’s legal actions, but her attempts were met with silence.
Things took a tragic turn when Kim Sae-ron uploaded and then quickly deleted a personal photograph of herself with Kim Soo-hyun on Instagram. Just hours later, she took her life in her apartment on the same day as Kim Soo-hyun’s 37th birthday, with police confirming the incident as a suicide.
In the aftermath of these events, both Kim Soo-hyun and Gold Medalist denied the allegations relating to their supposed relationship. Gold Medalist clarified that the intimate photo was taken when Kim Sae-ron was under their management, seeking to dispel the rumors.
However, following Kim Sae-ron’s passing, her family released new statements and evidence suggesting a romantic affiliation spanning six years, which allegedly began in 2015, when Kim Sae-ron was just 15 years old and Kim Soo-hyun was 27.
Gold Medalist issued a strong denial of the allegations, threatening legal action against both the Garosero YouTube channel and Kim Sae-ron’s family for defamation.
Further complicating matters, a private video purportedly showing Kim Soo-hyun at Kim Sae-ron’s home surfaced online, reportedly revealing him caressing her back, which stirred significant media speculation.
A separate image, shared by Garosero, allegedly depicted Kim Soo-hyun in a compromising situation while doing dishes in Kim Sae-ron’s residence, leading to intensified scrutiny from both fans and the media.
As reported by National World on March 23, Gold Medalist has proceeded with criminal proceedings against Garosero, members of Kim Sae-ron’s family, and an individual identified as her aunt for disseminating inappropriate images without consent.
Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team, LKB & Partners, expressed their intention to pursue legal action over what they called “false accusations regarding him dating a minor.”Amid this unfolding scandal, numerous brands, including PRADA and Homeplus, have severed ties with the popular actor, and the release of his Disney+ series, Knock Off, has been postponed indefinitely.