Controversies surrounding Kim Soo Hyun and The Late Actress Kim Sae Ron

Kim Soo Hyun is one of the top actors in the Korean industry. He is well known for his role in the K-drama “ Queen of Tears” and is now facing backlash for allegedly dating the late actress Kim Sae Ron. Kim Sae-Ron was a child actress; she started her career as a model before transitioning to acting. On February 16, 2025, Kim Sae Ron would be found dead, and the cause of her death was ruled as suicide.

Recently, a YouTube channel named Garosero Research Institute claimed that Kim Soo Hyun allegedly started dating Kim Sae Ron when she was just 15 while Kim Soo Hyun was 27. They dated for 6 years. This YouTube channel even claimed that this information was confirmed by Kim Sae Ron’s family members, and they even included a phone interview with one of Kim Sae Ron’s relatives. Since then, netizens have been trying to dig up everything on Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress Kim Sae Ron. The netizens were able to find a photo of Kim Sae Ron sending a coffee truck to Kim Soo Hyun when he was filming the K-drama “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay”.

This YouTube channel even released an unseen photo of Kim Soo Hyun. This photo showed Kim Soo Hyun kissing Kim Sae Ron on the cheek. A screenshot of a message sent by Kim Sae Ron to Kim Soo Hyun was released. I’ll give a context to this message. Back in 2022, Kim Sae Ron left a party and was driving under the influence. She then crashed the car onto a transformer, and as a result of this, power was out in the area. Kim Sae Ron was charged with DUI, and after this, she faced a lot of backlash and had to step away from the spotlight. This accident was a blow to her career and her public image. After this incident, she posted an image with Kim Soo Hyun. This was an intimate image of the two. In this image, the pair would be pressing their cheeks against each other. After posting this image, Kim Sae Ron swiftly deleted it.

At that time, Kim Sae Ron’s agency, “Goldmedalist,” denied that the pair were dating. Because of Kim Sae Ron’s DUI, her agency “Goldmedalist” had to pay 700 million Korean Won (around USD 473,000) on her behalf to settle the whole matter and pay the damages. Kim Sae Ron agreed to pay back the money slowly through her work. Later that year, she would not renew the contract with “Goldmedalist”.

Kim Sae Ron’s previous agency, “Goldmedalist,” was cofounded by Kim So Hyun’s cousin, so you can say this is also Kim So Hyun’s agency. But on December 31st, 2023, she would get a lawsuit from the company demanding that she pay the full amount. If she fails to pay the full amount, a criminal case will be charged against her. During this time, Kim Sae Ron was struggling, and she did not have the money. So she sent a text message to Kim Soo Hyun.

The text message read: “Oppa, this is Sae-ron. I received the letter of certification today that your company is suing me. You said that you would give me ample time, so I’m working hard, preparing to make a comeback.”

I will pay you back with a percentage from each job. I’m not saying that I won’t pay you back, but if you suddenly ask for 700 million KRW right now, I really can’t do anything. It’s not that I won’t, but I can’t. Do you really have to take it as far as a lawsuit? Please save me… I beg of you. Give me some time.”

In the above text message, Kim Sae Ron was practically begging Kim Soo Hyun to save her. Since these messages, the netizens have been canceling the actor. They have been calling out the actor for grooming the late actress Kim Sae Ron and attempting to extort millions from her through his agency.

Kim Soo Hyun’s agency denied all claims and even threatened to take legal action for making false claims.