Family of Late Actress Sulli Seeks Clarity from Kim Soo-hyun
In a recent live press conference on March 31, 2025, actor Kim Soo-hyun faced questions surrounding his conduct, particularly regarding his relationship with fellow actor Kim Sae-ron. This event marked his first public appearance since the controversy erupted about a month prior. The atmosphere was charged, as it followed demands from Sulli’s family, asking for accountability from Kim Soo-hyun.
Following the conference, both the Garo Sero Institute and Kim Sae-ron’s family expressed their thoughts on Kim’s statements. Choi Geon-hee, Sulli’s brother, conveyed his family’s sentiments in an interview with TV Report, sharing his frustration about the situation:
“Kim Soo Hyun’s press conference was so predictable that it wasn’t even surprising. We watched it expressionlessly. Due to the controversy surrounding the late Kim Sae Ron, the media became noisy. There were many posts that seemed to refer to my sister’s situation, which caused us stress.”
Support for Kim Sae-ron’s Family
Choi Geon-hee further elaborated on the family dynamic, highlighting their intention to extend support to Kim Sae-ron’s family amidst their struggles:
“Seeing the struggles of Kim Sae Ron’s family, we wanted to provide some support in any way possible. There’s also personal frustrations we wanted to address.”
The late Sulli, whose birth name was Choi Jin-ri, starred alongside Kim Soo-hyun in the 2017 film Real, notorious for its explicit content. The family of Sulli has advocated for answers from both the film’s director and Kim Soo-hyun, citing concerns about potential exploitation and how Sulli was treated during filming.
Calls for Accountability from Kim Soo-hyun
Sulli’s family has vocally sought a candid acknowledgment and apology from Kim Soo-hyun regarding any mistreatment experienced by Sulli while working on Real. Unfortunately, during the recent conference, Kim did not address Sulli or the film at all, focusing instead on the ongoing issues surrounding Kim Sae-ron.
Choi Geon-hee expressed his dissatisfaction with Kim Soo-hyun’s failure to confront these serious allegations, stressing the pressure faced by Sulli during the film’s promotion due to its explicit nature. Tragically, Sulli took her life in October 2019, a loss that reverberated throughout the media and her fan base.
Questions Around the Production of Real
In his continued dialogue with the media, Choi raised significant questions regarding the film’s production:
“Real raises three main questions. First, the script was not fully finalized. Second, there was a body double for the exposure scene, but they were reportedly unable to come to the set due to illness. However, the double was actually on-site, and the scene was supposed to be filmed with them. So why was the scene shot the way it was? We still don’t have an answer.”
Choi openly acknowledged the family’s uncertainties about the factors contributing to Sulli’s tragic decision, stating:
“It cannot be definitively said that it was solely because of Real or Kim Soo Hyun. It is a well-known fact that she suffered from malicious comments after the movie was released. There were also personal aspects to her struggles.”
Lastly, Choi underscored the importance of director Lee Jung-sub, hinting that he might hold crucial information regarding the film’s production. He expressed concerns regarding Gold Medalist, Kim Soo-hyun’s label, emphasizing that inaction could lead to detrimental consequences:
“We believe that director Lee Jung Sub holds the key points regarding Real. Whether or not Gold Medalist will respond remains uncertain, but they should recognize that staying silent will have a negative impact.”
Additionally, Lee Sa-rang (also known as Lee Ro-be) has taken over the directorship from Lee Jung-sub and is reportedly a co-founder of Gold Medalist and Kim Soo-hyun’s cousin.
Social Media Speculation and Legal Actions
Recently, Choi’s ambiguous posts on Instagram have garnered attention, with many believing they might be aimed at Kim Soo-hyun. The press conference itself did not facilitate any Q&A session, as the actor’s legal representative indicated that the topic under discussion could lead to legal implications. Consequently, a defamation lawsuit has been filed for 12 million KRW against Kim Sae-ron’s family, the Garo Sero Institute, and an unidentified party referred to simply as “Aunt.”
As the conversation surrounding this issue develops, the questions posed by Sulli’s family regarding her treatment and the context of her struggles remain unanswered, leaving many in the public and the media awaiting further developments in this complex narrative.
Watch the press conference here
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