Despite being mired in a major controversy, South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun has found a silver lining in his professional life. He has been under public scrutiny following allegations that he was romantically involved with the late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was still a minor. These allegations have sparked widespread backlash, yet his television drama Queen of Tears has recently received the honor of ‘K-Drama Series of the Year’ at the 6th VP Choice Awards.
The controversy began with claims that Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron when she was only 15 years old, while he was 27. The situation escalated following Sae Ron’s untimely death on February 16, 2025—which also happened to be Soo Hyun’s birthday. Her family accused the actor of exploiting her emotionally and being involved with her for the past six years, further fueling public outrage.
Adding fuel to the fire, the YouTube channel GaroSero released private chats and romantic photographs, allegedly from 2016, that depicted the two in an intimate relationship. These leaks intensified public speculation and criticism, drawing even more attention to the already sensitive issue surrounding Soo Hyun and Sae Ron.
In an attempt to clear his name, Soo Hyun held an emotional press conference on March 31, where he strongly denied having a relationship with Sae Ron during her teenage years. Fighting back tears, he recounted his side of the story, but his emotional display was largely dismissed by the public as insincere, with many mocking him and referring to his tears as crocodile tears.
Sae Ron’s family continued to push their narrative in a subsequent press conference, which was attended by GaroSero’s CEO and legal representatives. They even played an audio recording they claimed was of Sae Ron discussing intimate matters. However, the case took a surprising turn when a key whistleblower altered their statement, casting further uncertainty on the entire situation.
Amid all the chaos, Kim Soo Hyun’s drama Queen of Tears proved resilient. Not only did it win the coveted ‘K-Drama Series of the Year’ title, but its lead stars—Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won—were also awarded ‘K-Drama Couple of the Year.’ Although rumors about a real-life romance between the two circulated after the show aired, they were quickly denied. This professional recognition offers a rare moment of positivity for Soo Hyun in an otherwise troubled time.