In the video, a woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron‘s aunt claims that their relationship began in 2015, when Kim Sae Ron was 15 years old.
Actor Kim Soo Hyun is currently in the spotlight after the fact emerged that he had a six-year relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron.
The issue came to light after the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (Hoverlab) revealed claims from a woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt. The allegation has sparked further controversy because it is related to the accident, financial stress, and tragedy that befell Kim Sae Ron before her death.
Actor Kim Soo Hyun is now at the center of controversy after allegations of a six-year relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron surfaced. The news was first revealed by the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute or known as Hoverlab on March 10, 2025.
In the video, a woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt claims that their relationship began in 2015, when Kim Sae Ron was 15 and Kim Soo Hyun was 27.
At the time, the minimum age for consent in a relationship in South Korea was 13, before it was raised to 16 in 2020. The relationship allegedly continued into 2021.Kim Sae Ron’s aunt also revealed that when Kim Sae Ron joined the Gold Medalist agency in 2020, she helped train actors without pay. However, after the accident she was involved in in 2022, her position in the entertainment industry began to decline.
Kim Soo Hyun, through his agency, denied all allegations and threatened legal action. “The statements made about Kim Soo Hyun on YouTube today are completely false,” Gold Medalist asserted.
Kim Sae Ron’s Accident.
In 2022, Kim Sae Ron was involved in a drunk driving accident. This incident brought a lot of negative comments attacking Kim Sae Ron at that time and damaged her reputation and had a big impact on her career.
After the accident, Gold Medalist paid compensation of 700 million won (around Rp. 7.8 billion) to the injured party. According to Kim Sae Ron’s aunt, at that time Kim Soo Hyun did not set a deadline for the return of the money. However, in early 2024, Kim Sae Ron suddenly received an official letter from Gold Medalist demanding payment of the debt.
Feeling cornered, Kim Sae Ron tried to contact Kim Soo Hyun through various means, including using her cousin’s number. However, she got no response. Even more surprising, journalists began contacting Kim Sae Ron’s cousin, which made her suspect that Kim Soo Hyun gave the number to the media.
In order to get Kim Soo Hyun’s attention, Kim Sae Ron uploaded a photo of the two of them on Instagram in March 2024, amidst the popularity of the drama Queen of Tears. However, the photo was immediately deleted after a few minutes.
It is very unfortunate that after the photo was uploaded, instead of getting a response from Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Sae Ron was showered with insults from netizens who considered her to be seeking attention amidst Soo Hyun’s popularity.
But this is not the first time she has received negative comments. Previously, a photo circulated of Kim Sae Ron who was on hiatus from the entertainment industry after an accident was seen working in a cafe. At that time, the photo became the target of netizens who again considered her to be seeking attention. It was later discovered from her co-workers that Sae Ron worked hard like the other staff because she needed the money.
Kim Sae Ron’s Death.
On February 16, 2025, Kim Sae Ron was found dead in her home. The day of her death coincided with Kim Soo Hyun’s 37th birthday. The police concluded that the cause of her death was suicide.
According to Dispatch, financial stress was a major factor in her death. After receiving the letter demanding payment, Kim Sae Ron tried to pay off her debts by selling assets, including cars and convertible bonds. However, she was only able to raise about 200 million won, far short of the requested amount.
Dilansir dari Koreaboo, Dispatch juga merilis pesan teks yang diduga dikirim Kim Sae Ron kepada Kim Soo Hyun pada 19 Maret 2024.
“I’m trying to get back on my feet. I’ll pay off this debt with every project I take. I’m not refusing to pay, but if I have to pay 700 million won all at once, I really can’t. Should this really end up in a lawsuit? Please save me… I beg you, give me some time.”
However, Kim Soo Hyun still did not respond. As time went by, the pressure on Kim Sae Ron increased, which eventually led to her decision to end her life.
The South Korean public is now highlighting Gold Medalist’s role in the case. Dispatch reported that although Gold Medalist later claimed that they had no real intention of collecting the debt, Kim Sae Ron had already felt pressured by the lawsuit. Many believe that the agency’s failure to support its former artist contributed to the tragedy.
Gold Medalist is scheduled to release an official statement soon. However, the public is still waiting for more clarity regarding the allegations of Kim Soo Hyun’s relationship with Kim Sae Ron and how financial pressure influenced the actress’ tragic decision.