South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has strongly denied allegations made by a YouTube channel claiming that he was in a long-term relationship with the late former child actress Kim Sae-ron since she was still a minor.
On Soompi‘s report, the YouTube channel identified as HoverLab Inc. (also known as Garo Sero Institute) reportedly released a video alleging that Kim Sae-ron had been romantically involved with Kim Soo-hyun for six years, starting when she was 15 years old while the actor was 27.
The channel claimed to have verified the information through Kim Sae-ron’s parents, supported with a phone interview with a family member.
In response, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, issued an official statement on Tuesday, Mar. 11, denying the claims, calling them “clearly false and baseless.”
HoverLab Inc. reportedly accused Kim Soo-hyun and his agency of colluding with YouTuber Lee Jin Ho to harass Kim Sae-ron, alleging a romantic relationship between the two and improper handling of her drunk-driving incident back in 2022.
“These malicious claims directed at our company and actor Kim Soo Hyun are entirely false and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. We are currently reviewing the strongest possible legal actions against HoverLab Inc. for spreading these falsehoods,” the agency wrote.
The agency further stated that they are currently exploring the “strongest possible legal actions” against HoverLab Inc. for spreading misinformation.
GOLDMEDALIST also expressed condolences over the passing of Kim Sae-ron who was previously part of the agency, and condemned the YouTube channel for exploiting the situation for their own gain.
Kim Sae-ron passed away last February at the age of 24, on the same day as Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday.
“Our company is deeply saddened by the passing of the late Kim Sae Ron, who was once part of our agency, and we mourn her loss. However, the dissemination of such false information by HoverLab Inc. mirrors the very behavior of so-called “cyber wreckers” that caused the late actress so much pain during her lifetime.”
The agency vowed to take serious action to protect their company and honor the deceased, stating, “Their actions, driven solely by self-interest, not only damage our company but also tarnish the honor of the deceased, and thus we will respond to this matter with the utmost seriousness.”
The statement concluded by urging the public and media outlets to refrain from spreading or amplifying the said rumors.
Fresh claims emerged on Wednesday, Mar. 12, as reported by The Korea Times including a text message and an dated never-before-seen photo of the two.
In a text message dated March 19, 2024, Kim Sae-ron reportedly wrote to Kim Soo-hyun, regarding a legal dispute over unpaid debts.
The message read: “Oppa, it’s Sae-ron. I received the content-certified letter. You’re suing me… I’ve been preparing for my return to acting, and I plan to repay you gradually from each project. It’s not that I won’t pay, but I just can’t manage 700 million won ($525,000) all at once. Please give me time. I’m begging you, please help me.”
The family claims that despite multiple attempts to reach him, Kim Soo-hyun never responded. Days later, on March 24, 2024, Kim Sae-ron posted—and quickly deleted—a photo of herself with the actor, where their cheeks were touching.
Hoverlab further revealed another image, appearing to be taken in the same manner as their previous photo, showing Kim Soo-hyun allegedly kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek, which the family claims was taken when she was only 15 years old, during her third year of middle school.
A letter dated March 24, 2023, supposedly written by Kim Sae-ron, further revealed details on her alleged relationship with the actor.
In the note, she stated: “Though the media reported that the dating rumors were groundless, I want to make it clear that’s not true. The photo I uploaded was from 2016. Our relationship lasted from Nov. 19, 2015, to July 7, 2021. I was 16, and he was 30.”
She further alleged that discussions took place regarding her signing with Gold Medalist. However, she ultimately joined the company without receiving proper compensation for her contributions, which reportedly included “rookie casting” and “visual directing”. The agency allegedly later sent her a content-certified letter demanding debt repayment, terminating their contract in May 2022.
Kim Sae-ron’s mother also issued a statement through Hoverlab, saying, “Speaking again about a daughter who is no longer with me is painful, but I want to restore her name from the damage caused by false reports. I hope she is remembered as the respected actress she was, not as a tabloid figure.”
As of writing, Kim Soo-hyun and his agency have yet to comment on addressing the latest claims.
