The family of the late South Korean actress Kim Sae Ron has publicly accused actor Kim Soo Hyun of engaging in a long-term relationship with her that allegedly began when she was still underage. On May 7, 2025, the family held a press conference where they shared a voice recording, claiming it features Kim Sae Ron herself admitting to dating Kim Soo Hyun since middle school. In the clip, she describes being in a six-year relationship with the actor and expresses fear toward both him and his agency, Gold Medalist.
During the conference, the audio recording was played for reporters. The voice, said to be Kim Sae Ron’s, detailed how she began dating Kim Soo Hyun during her early teenage years and broke up with him only after entering college. She claimed that Kim Soo Hyun and people at Gold Medalist were intimidating and capable of extreme actions. The family presented this recording as evidence of a relationship that started when the actress was only 15 years old.
In response, Gold Medalist issued a strong denial, dismissing the audio as a fake. The agency alleged that the clip was generated using artificial intelligence and announced plans to take legal action against both the YouTube channel that aired it—the Garo Sero Institute—and the woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt, who originally revealed the allegations in March.
The scandal first gained public attention in March 2025 when the Garo Sero Institute released an interview with the alleged aunt. During that interview, she made several claims about the inappropriate relationship between Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun. Following that broadcast, Kim Sae Ron’s family escalated the matter legally, filing a criminal complaint accusing Kim Soo Hyun of violating South Korea’s Child Welfare Act.
According to the legal team representing the family, they hold Kim Soo Hyun partly responsible for emotional harm that allegedly contributed to Kim Sae Ron’s death in February 2025. Although officials did not suspect foul play in her death, the family believes the psychological toll from the relationship was a significant factor. Her funeral was held a few days later, on February 19.
The backlash against Kim Soo Hyun has been swift. In the wake of these accusations, he has lost endorsement deals and suffered a decline in public support. Once considered among South Korea’s most bankable stars, his reputation has been deeply affected by the controversy, putting his acting career at serious risk.
Another critical element surfaced during the press conference when the family’s lawyer, Bu Ji Seok, revealed Kim Sae Ron had spoken to a whistleblower in New Jersey shortly before her death. The whistleblower reportedly recorded a 90-minute conversation in which Kim Sae Ron discussed her relationship with the actor and the immense pressure she felt from those around her. The situation took a darker turn when the whistleblower was attacked in April and is now being investigated by the FBI.
In a portion of the recording, Kim Sae Ron reportedly described her experiences in graphic terms, stating she was sent inappropriate content by Kim Soo Hyun and that their first sexual encounter happened during her second year of middle school. Gold Medalist maintains that the audio is manipulated and claims the individual who shared it had previously approached them for money, promising they had recordings that could clear the actor’s name. Despite the agency’s denials, the public remains skeptical, and the scandal continues to spark conversation about abuse of power and the protection of young women in the entertain
ment industry.