On March 13, 2025, the Garosero Research Institute uploaded a controversial video to YouTube, alleging possession of private photos of the acclaimed actor Kim Soo-hyun. The video was provocatively titled “Kim Sae-ron Driven to Death by LKB.”
This video has raised eyebrows as the channel threatened to release “shirtless”images of the actor characterized as “washing dishes”unless Kim Soo-hyun’s agency issues a formal apology. The threat was explicitly mentioned in the video.
“We have a photo of someone shirtless and washing dishes at his girlfriend’s house. It’s not just a photo, there’s also a video. Next week, we plan to review someone’s statement of position and publish it,”Garosero asserted.
Furthermore, the channel indicated that a public apology from Kim Soo-hyun through his agency is expected within the following week, as they claim that Kim Sae-ron’s family is pressing for accountability from the actor.
Sources suggest that Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, are collaborating on a comprehensive press statement aimed at clarifying the situation, which is anticipated to be publicly released soon.
Among the claims made in the video was the reference to a tweet by Kim Sae-ron from 2016, where Kim Soo-hyun purportedly referred to her as “Saero-Nero.”The channel suggested it possesses additional photographs and evidence that could corroborate their purported relationship. Additionally, evidence was presented that Kim Sae-ron had sent a coffee truck to the set of Kim Soo-hyun’s drama, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.
Understanding the Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron Controversy
The unfolding controversy originated from Garosero Research Institute’s claims on March 10, 2025, asserting that the two actors had been in a clandestine relationship for six years, reportedly beginning in 2016 when Kim Sae-ron was just 15 years old.
According to the channel, the relationship concluded in 2022, coinciding with Kim Sae-ron’s DUI incident. Allegedly, after the fallout, Gold Medalist demanded that Kim Sae-ron compensate approximately 700 million KRW for damages arising from her DUI case.
During this difficult time, it was reported that Kim Sae-ron sought Kim Soo-hyun’s help multiple times regarding financial difficulties and the debt owed to Gold Medalist. Reports claim that he ignored her pleas and ultimately blocked her on messaging platforms.
On March 12, Gold Medalist categorically rejected the allegations, denouncing them as “entirely false.”The agency pledged to initiate legal measures against anyone disseminating misinformation. However, Garosero continued to publish purported messages, photos, and letters allegedly shared between the actors, which they claimed to have received from Kim Sae-ron’s family to substantiate the dating rumors.
In response, Gold Medalist provided an official statement to the media on March 13 to address the allegations. They assured that a detailed rebuttal, complete with supporting evidence, is expected to be released within the week.
“Hello, this is Gold Medalist. We would like to issue a statement regarding the recent accusations made against Kim Soo Hyun by ‘HOVERLAB’. To effectively counter these baseless rumors and allegations, Gold Medalist will release a full-length statement based on factual evidence next week,”the agency announced.
They also expressed regret over their delayed response, clarifying it was necessary to prevent the dissemination of misleading information.