Kim Soo-hyun faces backlash amid allegations of relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron
text_fields
South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is under intense public scrutiny following allegations from the family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron, who claim the two were involved in a romantic relationship from 2015 to 2021, starting when she was 15 and he was 27.
Further fueling the controversy, a photo surfaced showing Kim Soo-hyun appearing to kiss a young Kim Sae-ron on the cheek, allegedly taken when she was in her third year of middle school. Additionally, a letter dated March 24, 2023, purportedly written by Kim Sae-ron, detailed their alleged relationship and disputes with Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist.
Kim Sae-ron was found dead in her Seoul apartment on February 16, 2025, in an apparent suicide. She had faced significant public backlash following a drunk-driving incident in 2022, which severely impacted her career and led to extensive online harassment.
The controversy intensified when Kim Sae-ron's family released a text message dated March 19, 2023, in which she pleaded with Kim Soo-hyun for financial leniency regarding a debt of 700 million won (approximately $525,000). The message read: "Oppa, it's Sae-ron... I plan to repay you gradually from each project... Please give me time." The family alleges that Kim Soo-hyun did not respond to her appeals.
When Kim Sae-ron was involved in the DUI, the agency she was signed with and owned by Kim Soo-hyun took the matter into their hands and paid off the compensation even though Kim Sae-ron wanted to investigate the matter herself. At the time, the actress expressed gratitude to him for taking care of her. However, she later received a letter from the company demanding she pay back the money. She was on a break from the industry after the DUI incident and was working on a comeback project.
In a screenshot released, Sae-ron sent the actor a message begging for help. He had been ghosting her for some time. To get his attention, she even posted an intimate photo of them on Instagram which was quickly removed.
In light of the messages, photographs, and her family's statements, fans are speculating that Sae-ron may have been manipulated into financial debt.
In response to the allegations, Gold Medalist has denied any romantic involvement between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron, labeling the claims as "baseless falsehoods" and stating that they are considering legal action against the spread of these allegations.
The public reaction has been swift and severe, with Kim Soo-hyun's social media accounts inundated with critical comments. Many users have expressed their disappointment and anger, with remarks such as, "Bro, she was underage," and, "You should be ashamed of yourself." Some have called for his removal from ongoing projects, reflecting the growing public outcry. Fans are also demanding major brands like Prada to terminate their contracts with him.
Kim Sae-ron died by suicide on February 16, 2025 - a date fans are now finding symbolic as it is the birthday of Kim Soo-hyun. Netizens are also highlighting that Soo-hyun was flooding Instagram with his birthday celebration posts on the day she died and did not even attend her funeral.