On May 7th, attorney Bu Ji Seok, representing the late Kim Sae Ron’s family through Law Firm Buyou, held a press conference in Gangnam, Seoul. The event was centered on allegations against actor Kim Soo Hyun, accusing him of involvement in serious misconduct. This press briefing was conducted alongside Kim Se Ui, who heads the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, known for releasing content that claims Kim Soo Hyun was in a relationship with Kim Sae Ron when she was underage and pressured her following her DUI incident.
Before the press conference, Garo Sero Institute posted on their YouTube community page stressing the gravity of the situation, urging viewers that the information they were about to share was extremely serious. They emphasized that once the press conference content was revealed, the public would understand the severity of the claims.
During the confidential session limited to journalists, the representatives disclosed that a crucial piece of evidence is a recorded phone conversation lasting about an hour and a half between the late actress and an informant. Kim Sae Ron had agreed to this recording. However, the informant was violently attacked in New York by an unidentified assailant of Korean-Chinese descent. This stabbing incident, involving multiple knife wounds to the neck, was described as an attempt to silence the informant.
Attorney Bu Ji Seok detailed that the assault took place on April 30th in the United States. The attackers were reported to be a Korean and a Korean-Chinese national who had recently entered the country via JFK Airport. The FBI, rather than local authorities, is investigating the case. Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Police have been requested to look into this incident, highlighting the seriousness and international scope of the situation.
Garo Sero Institute and the legal team released portions of the recorded call in which Kim Sae Ron revealed her past relationship with Kim Soo Hyun. In the audio, she stated they began dating during her middle school years and ended their relationship after she started college. She described feelings of being exploited from a young age and expressed fear of Kim Soo Hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, implying they wield significant power.
The recording also highlighted Kim Sae Ron’s struggles with harassment from media figures, including reporter Lee Jin Ho and another journalist named Kang. She explained how attempts to restart her career after the DUI were undermined by YouTube videos and articles that painted her in a negative light. According to the audio, Lee Jin Ho continued to harass her by repeatedly contacting her even after she changed her phone number, amplifying her distress.
Further disclosures indicated Lee Jin Ho tried to obtain the recorded conversation by offering large sums of money. He allegedly communicated with the informant, Mr. A, and attempted to persuade him to hand over the recording. When questioned about his connections, Lee Jin Ho claimed no direct ties to Kim Soo Hyun’s agency but admitted to having contact with reporter Kang. This added complexity to the ongoing controversy.
In response to these allegations and the press conference, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, issued a statement denying the claims and expressing concern over the spreading of unverified information. They urged the public and media outlets to confirm facts before publishing reports to prevent damage to the actor’s reputation based on one-sided accusations.