South Korean Actor Kim Soo-hyun Faces Allegations of Underage Relationship with Late Actress Kim Sae-ron
South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is at the center of controversy following allegations of an underage relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron. Reports claim that Kim, 37, was involved in a six-year-long relationship with Kim Sae-ron that began when she was 15 and he was 27, allegedly ending in 2021.
Kim Sae-ron was found dead in her home on February 16, the same day as Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday. Her death was ruled a suicide, coming years after a drunk driving incident in 2022 that negatively impacted her career. Allegations regarding the relationship surfaced on March 10, when claims emerged that the pair had been romantically involved for years, with photographic evidence and purported messages surfacing online.
According to reports, Kim Sae-ron’s aunt alleged that after she joined Gold Medalist, the agency co-founded by Kim Soo-hyun, in 2020, she provided coaching to actors without compensation. Following her 2022 drunk driving incident, Gold Medalist reportedly covered 700 million won (US$480,000) in compensation for affected parties. Initially, Kim Soo-hyun did not request repayment, but in 2024, Kim Sae-ron received a certified letter demanding full repayment. She attempted to contact Kim Soo-hyun for clarification but reportedly received no response.
In March 2024, Kim Sae-ron posted a now-deleted Instagram story featuring a selfie with Kim Soo-hyun, possibly as an attempt to reach him. Subsequently, screenshots of text messages allegedly sent by her to Kim Soo-hyun surfaced, in which she pleaded for more time to repay the debt, explaining her financial difficulties. Additional reports revealed a letter allegedly written by Kim Soo-hyun to Kim Sae-ron in 2018, when he was 30 and she was 17. In the letter, he referred to her affectionately and expressed missing her.
As the controversy escalated, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, denied all allegations and announced legal action against the sources spreading the claims. Despite their denial, additional images and handwritten letters reportedly linked to Kim Soo-hyun continued to surface.
South Korean media further investigated the financial dispute, reporting that Gold Medalist stated they had no real intention of collecting the debt and that the certified letter was a procedural measure to protect against embezzlement accusations. However, reports indicated that Kim Sae-ron liquidated assets, including her car and convertible bonds, raising approximately 200 million won in an attempt to settle the debt.
The allegations have resulted in significant backlash against Kim Soo-hyun, with calls to boycott brands associated with him. His social media following has declined, and online criticism has intensified. Actress Seo Yea-ji, Kim Soo-hyun’s co-star in It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, also became unintentionally involved in the controversy, leading her to release a statement denying any connection to the issue.
On March 13, Gold Medalist announced plans to issue a detailed response the following week, stating that they would provide clarification and refute baseless rumors with concrete evidence. The agency acknowledged the controversy’s prolonged nature and asked for understanding as they prepared their official statement.
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