South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is set to participate in the upcoming 2025 Cherry Blossom Festival, organized by 7-Eleven Taiwan, on March 30. This highly anticipated event includes a 40-minute fan meeting, and despite recent controversies surrounding the actor’s private life, he has confirmed his attendance.
Reports indicate that should he withdraw from this event, he would incur a cancellation fee of approximately 1.3 billion won. As of March 20, it has also been specified that the event is restricted to attendees aged 18 and over, likely in response to the notable scrutiny Kim Soo-hyun is facing.
The controversy arose after a YouTube report by the Garosero Research Institute, released on March 11, claimed that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron for six years, despite a substantial age difference—12 years between them. Allegedly, they began their relationship in 2015, when Kim Sae-ron was just 15 years old and Kim Soo-hyun was 27.
Allegations and Implications Surrounding Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron
The report from Garosero Research Institute brought forward serious allegations about Kim Soo-hyun, including suggestions of inappropriate behavior, which added to the ongoing public discourse. The report further implicated that both the actor and his management could be tied to circumstances surrounding Kim Sae-ron’s untimely passing.
According to the findings, their alleged relationship reportedly ended around the time of Kim Sae-ron’s DUI incident in 2022. Following this, she had joined Gold Medalist, the agency founded by Kim Soo-hyun, and it was alleged that the agency financially supported her following the incident.
Sources suggest that the agency provided her with 700 million KRW to cover legal compensation. After some time, however, Kim Sae-ron departed from Gold Medalist and promised to repay the amount over time. Unfortunately, a formal notice demanding payment was reportedly sent to her in 2024, increasing the pressure on her.
Struggling with her financial situation, Kim Sae-ron attempted to reach out to Kim Soo-hyun for clarity, but received no response. Amid the airing of his drama series Queen of Tears in 2024, she posted—and then deleted—an old photo of them together, believed to be another attempt to reconnect.
Gold Medalist had previously denied the dating allegations, asserting that they were in a typical relationship given their ages at the time. They have also rebuffed claims regarding the financial struggle, stating that Kim Soo-hyun was not involved in the monetary disputes tied to Kim Sae-ron.
Tragically, the mounting pressures and lack of support seemingly contributed to Kim Sae-ron’s decision to end her life on Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday, February 16, 2025. The circumstances surrounding this event continue to spark discussions and concerns within the South Korean entertainment industry.
As the situation unfolds, more photos and videos implicating the two have surfaced from Garosero Research Institute, but clear communication from both parties remains absent.