Kim Sae-ron was reportedly in a relationship with a well-known older idol, referred to as Mr. A, starting around 2018. The couple separated in early 2019 but later reconciled sometime between early and mid-2022, during which Sae-ron was going through a rough period following a DUI incident. During this time, Mr. A provided her with financial support. Their relationship was not hidden; Sae-ron openly introduced Mr. A as her boyfriend to friends and acquaintances. They eventually broke up again in early 2023, although they reportedly remained in contact until the end of that year.
Sources within the entertainment industry confirmed that even after the official breakup, Kim Sae-ron and Mr. A continued to meet as friends. Industry insiders emphasized that discussing their relationship timeline was necessary only to clarify the rumors involving actor Kim Soo-hyun. They also cautioned the public against making baseless assumptions about Mr. A’s identity. One popular but incorrect rumor suggested that Mr. A was part of a well-known seven-member idol group, which has since been disproven.
The rumor that Kim Sae-ron had dated Kim Soo-hyun for six years, from late 2015 to July 2021, gained traction when it was discussed on the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute. The claim was based on alleged text messages between Sae-ron and a friend. However, this claim has been met with skepticism due to overlapping timelines with her other relationships, including with Mr. A in 2019 and singer WOODZ from 2021 to 2022. She is also known to have had relationships in both 2016 and 2018, further complicating the narrative.
Adding to the inconsistency, Kim Soo-hyun was reportedly involved with another actress between 2016 and 2019. The text messages that were presented as evidence by Sae-ron’s family have not been authenticated. These messages, said to have been sent by Kim Soo-hyun, contained intimate phrases, but Soo-hyun’s representatives have firmly denied their origin, calling them either fabricated or written by a third party.
Kim Soo-hyun’s team has requested the original digital forensics data from Kim Sae-ron’s family to verify the claims, but they have yet to receive any concrete response. Meanwhile, some photos of the two actors together have surfaced, but all were confirmed to be taken after 2019, when Kim Sae-ron was already legally an adult. A video showing Kim Soo-hyun’s home and a spicy chicken dish was also presented as supposed evidence, though others were present during the filming, weakening its credibility.
The entire controversy has become a focal point of media and fan speculation, particularly as it involves high-profile names and unclear timelines. The Garosero Research Institute, which initially publicized the dating rumor, has come under criticism for spreading unverified claims. With legal investigations underway and both parties denying the relationship, the story continues to develop, leaving many questions unanswered and reputations at risk.