In a livestream event held on March 31, 2025, Choi Dae-hee, the older brother of the late Sulli, spoke candidly about his sister’s challenges and the significant individuals who were part of her life. During the session, a viewer inquired about the support Sulli received from the entertainment industry. Dae-hee acknowledged:
“I believe IU was emotionally helpful to Sulli, especially as an artist who inspired her.”
The Bond between Sulli and IU
Sulli, whose real name was Choi Jin-ri, shared a profound friendship with IU. The actress, known for her role in Life Gives You Tangerines, has spoken fondly of Sulli in various interviews, including a memorable segment on MBC FM4U’s Hope Song. When interviewer Kim Shin-young prompted her to express whom she would like to be in a future life, IU remarked:
“I have a folder on my computer for pictures of pretty celebrities, and the one I have the most photos of is Sulli. In my opinion, Sulli is the prettiest Korean female celebrity,”(as reported by Asia Today in 2014).
Both stars co-hosted the music program Inkigayo together, and IU even penned the song “Peach”as a tribute to Sulli. In a 2013 appearance on MBC’s Radio Star, Sulli expressed her excitement about this personal gift:
“IU and I hosted a music program together, and she had told me that she would be writing a song for me. My fans call me Peach, so when her new song came out, I called to ask her about it, and she confirmed that the song was for me.”
She further shared that the song’s lyrics were filled with compliments, and that IU frequently referred to her as ‘unnie,’ often conveying similar affirmations in person. This heartfelt commentary by Choi Dae-hee occurred just prior to an important press conference featuring actor Kim Soo-hyun.
Choi Dae-hee’s Critique of Kim Soo-hyun
During his livestream, Choi Dae-hee also commented on Kim Soo-hyun’s press conference, expressing his opinions on the actor’s remarks and the outfit he chose for the event. Dae-hee indicated that individuals experiencing mental instability might not be as meticulous about their appearance:
“While Kim Soo-hyun may seem emotional, he appears to be psychologically stable,” Choi noted. This comment followed a March 14, 2025 statement from Gold Medalist agency that revealed Kim Soo-hyun was facing personal challenges due to controversies connected with the late actress Kim Sae-ron.
Further scrutinizing Kim Soo-hyun’s public responses, Choi conveyed:
“I can’t understand what (Kim Soo-hyun) finds unfair. It seems to me he is less aggrieved. He has much to protect due to his own greed. Is there going to be a second press conference? Is this the end? Is 12 billion won the final goal?”
Choi Dae-hee showed skepticism regarding the sincerity of Kim Soo-hyun’s emotions, adding,
“He doesn’t seem to be sorry for the deceased at all. Can the forensic work be deceptive? Didn’t you say it was reconstructed to fit the situation? Didn’t you say it was reconstructed to be nearly identical to reality?”
Public Statement and Allegations
Since March 21, 2025, Sulli’s brother has been vocal about his critiques of Kim Soo-hyun. On March 28, he called for accountability from both Kim Soo-hyun and director Lee Sang-rak regarding controversial scenes in the film Real, voicing several concerns:
- The script did not indicate any intimate scenes involving Kim Soo-hyun when Sulli was cast.
- The late artist was allegedly encouraged to film these scenes without a body double, despite the availability of one.
- Despite claims that the body double was ill on the day of filming, reports suggest that person was present on set.
On March 28, 2025, Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference at the Stanfort Hotel in Seoul, accompanied by his lawyer, Kim Jong-bok. During this event, the actor denied rumors of a relationship with the underage Kim Sae-ron and addressed allegations from the Garosero Research Institute, asserting that the KakaoTalk messages and videos were manipulated. Furthermore, his legal team submitted evidence indicating that supposed messages from 2016 and 2018 did not originate from the same individual, while Kim Soo-hyun’s representatives initiated a defamation lawsuit against Sulli’s family and the Garosero Institute, seeking 12 billion won in damages.