On February 16, 2025, actress Kim Sae-Ron died by suicide in her Seoul apartment, coinciding with her ex-boyfriend Kim Soo Hyun's birthday. She was 24.
Instagram/kdrama.oppa22
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On March 10, in a YouTube video by Garosero Research Institute, her aunt claimed that Kim Sae-Ron had been in a six-year relationship with actor Kim Soo-Hyun.
Instagram/Kim Soo Hyun
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She alleged that their relationship began when Kim Sae-Ron was 15, a "minor", and Kim Soo-Hyun was 27.
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She also alleged that Sae-Ron joined Kim Soo-Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, in 2019, leaving YG Entertainment, and provided free labour, including acting classes and directing fresh talent, to help establish the company.
Instagram/Kim Soo Hyun
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She added they dated for six years until Kim Soo-Hyun distanced himself after Sae-Ron's 2022 DUI scandal (where she damaged public property while intoxicated), which caused significant damage to her career and left her in debt of 700 million won.
Instagram/Kim Sae Ron
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Her aunt, in the video, also mentioned that initially, Gold Medalist helped her handle the situation and paid about $483,000 in damages without asking her to pay the money back. However, things took a turn after her contract with Gold Medalist ended.
Instagram/Kim Sae Ron
"In 2024, the agency sent Sae-Ron a legal notice to pay back the money. When she tried to contact Kim Soo-Hyun, he did not answer her calls", her aunt said in the video.
Instagram/Kim Sae Ron
Among the evidence was a text message from Kim Sae-Ron, sent to Soo-Hyun on March 19, 2023, in which she allegedly begged the actor to give her some time to pay back the money.
Instagram/Kim Soo Hyun
Additionally, a 2016 picture surfaced showing Kim Soo-Hyun kissing a then-minor, Kim Sae-Ron, on the cheek.
Instagram/kdrama.oppa22
Shortly after, Kim Soo-Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, issued a statement calling the allegations "baseless and malicious" and threatening legal action against Garosero Research Institute.
Instagram/Kim Soo Hyun
While initially denying the dating rumors, the agency later confirmed that Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Sae-Ron had been in a relationship. However, they stated that the couple only began dating in 2019 when she was legally an adult at 19.
ron_sae/X
Later, her mother broke her silence and asked the actor and his agency to apologise for manipulating the media for three years, sending Kim Sae-Ron a legal notice of 700 million won (about $482,000 USD), and failing to acknowledge her daughter as a founding member.
Instagram/Kim Soo Hyun
She also urged Kim Soo-Hyun to admit that he had been dating Kim Sae-Ron since she was a minor and to issue a public apology.
Instagam/kdrama.__.fan___
Following the controversy, luxury brand Prada terminated its ambassador contract with Kim Soo-Hyun on March 14.
Instagram/mungvv
The production team of G-Dragon's reality show Good Day announced their decision to remove Kim Soo-Hyun's scenes. Vegan beauty brand Dinto has suspended all promotional activities featuring him, and bakery chain Tous les Jours has removed advertisements featuring him from their social media accounts. Additionally, there are speculations that his upcoming show Knock-Off might be cancelled.
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