The family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron has made headlines by releasing what they claim is a voice recording of Kim, in which she states she had a romantic and sexual relationship with fellow actor Kim Soo Hyun during her middle school years. The audio, presented at a press conference, includes her reportedly saying she dated Kim from the age of 15 and ended the relationship after entering college.
The voice in the clip goes on to describe Kim Soo Hyun and his management agency, Gold Medalist, as intimidating and dangerous, accusing them of using any means necessary to control situations. This has been presented by Kim’s family as proof of a six-year-long secret relationship, which contradicts Kim Soo Hyun’s previous statements denying any underage involvement.
Gold Medalist quickly countered the claim, stating that the audio is not authentic and might have been fabricated using artificial intelligence. They reaffirmed that any romantic involvement between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron only started after she became an adult, around mid-2019, and ended in 2020.
The controversy initially surfaced in March when a YouTube channel known as Garo Sero Institute aired an interview with a woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt. In the interview, the woman accused Kim Soo Hyun of dating Sae Ron while she was underage and demanded he be held accountable. The channel has since become a central point in the unfolding media storm.
In addition to the dating allegations, Kim Sae Ron’s family accused Kim Soo Hyun of financially pressuring her to repay nearly 700 million won—money they say was given to her following her DUI incident in 2022. The family suggests that the stress from this demand contributed to her emotional struggles prior to her death.
Despite Gold Medalist’s legal denial of all accusations and ongoing lawsuits against the YouTube channel and Kim’s family, Kim Soo Hyun’s career has been significantly impacted. He has lost endorsement deals, suffered a major drop in online followers, and reportedly relinquished his title as South Korea’s highest-paid actor due to the scandal.
Kim Sae Ron, who passed away in February at age 25, had been celebrated for her early roles in Korean cinema, especially in the internationally acclaimed film A Brand New Life. However, her career saw a sharp decline after her 2022 DUI, which led to multiple job losses and tarnished her reputation.
The allegations continue to attract public and media attention, with fellow celebrities unfollowing Kim Soo Hyun on social media and online petitions calling for reforms in South Korea’s age of consent laws. Meanwhile, Kim Soo Hyun has filed an $8 million lawsuit against Kim Sae Ron’s family and the YouTube channel, further fueling the public debate around truth, ethics, and accountability in the entertainment industry.