February 16, 2025, marked the tragic passing of actress Kim Sae-ron, who was found dead at the young age of 25. Once hailed as one of South Korea’s most promising young actresses, Kim debuted as a model in 2001 before making a breakthrough with The Man from Nowhere (2010). She continued to shine in projects like A Girl at My Door (2014), even becoming the youngest Korean actress to attend the Cannes Film Festival in 2009.
However, her career took a sharp downturn in 2022 following a drunk driving incident, which led to financial hardships and professional exile. While the news of her death was already devastating to fans, the controversy surrounding Kim Soo-hyun’s alleged past relationship with Kim Sae-ron has now overshadowed the mourning process, turning it into one of the biggest scandals in recent history.
According to Kim Sae-ron’s family, Kim Soo-hyun had allegedly been in a relationship with her since she was 15 years old, a claim that was revealed through the controversial YouTube channel Garosero Institute. This allegation sparked public outrage, leading to demands for Kim Soo-hyun’s removal from television programs and brand endorsements.
Despite Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, firmly denying the claims, stating that the two only dated between 2019 and 2020, when she was already an adult, the public backlash has intensified. People are questioning his credibility, his moral stance, and his behavior both before and after Kim Sae-ron’s death.
Why is the public so angry at Kim Soo-hyun?
The situation Kim Soo-hyun faces goes beyond a simple dating scandal. Public outrage is intensifying due to his changing statements, inconsistent explanations, and perceived moral failures, which have severely damaged his credibility.
1. Previously Denied Relationship with Kim Sae-ron, Now Suddenly Admits It
In the past, Kim Soo-hyun strongly denied rumors of a romantic relationship with Kim Sae-ron, despite her frequent hints indicating otherwise. However, following recent allegations suggesting they dated since Kim Sae-ron was 15 years old, Kim Soo-hyun abruptly changed his stance, admitting that they dated—but only between 2019 and 2020, after she had reached adulthood.
The public is criticizing Kim Soo-hyun’s sudden change of stance, questioning his credibility: “Why did he strongly deny their relationship before, only to admit it now?” This inconsistency has severely damaged his public trust and reputation.
2. Kim Soo-hyun’s Absence from Kim Sae-ron’s Funeral and Drinking with G-Dragon
Kim Soo-hyun faced severe backlash for not attending Kim Sae-ron’s funeral, with the public pointing out that attending would have been the decent and respectful thing to do, regardless of their past relationship.
The controversy escalated even further when it was revealed that, on the very night Kim Sae-ron passed away, Kim Soo-hyun was seen drinking with G-Dragon. This led to harsh criticism, with many commenting, “Even if they weren’t romantically involved anymore, shouldn’t he have at least paid his respects out of basic human decency?” and “Drinking with G-Dragon on the same night she died is shockingly insensitive.”
3. Allegations of Underage Relationship and Grooming Controversy
According to claims made by Kim Sae-ron’s family, actor Kim Soo-hyun allegedly began dating Kim Sae-ron when she was just 15 years old in 2015, at which point Kim Soo-hyun was 27. If true, this relationship would fall under the category of “grooming,” a situation in which an adult forms a close, manipulative relationship with a minor, leading to romantic involvement. Internationally, grooming allegations involving celebrities have led to significant legal, ethical, and professional repercussions.
Kim Soo-hyun’s agency has strongly denied these allegations. However, given that Kim Soo-hyun previously lied about his relationship status with Kim Sae-ron, the public is hesitant to trust his claims fully.
Further fueling the public suspicion is Kim Sae-ron’s sudden departure from YG Entertainment—one of Korea’s largest and most influential entertainment agencies—to join a small, newly established agency. At the time, Kim Sae-ron was already in an advantageous position at YG, where she had the potential for great success. However, she unexpectedly left and joined an unknown agency with uncertain prospects.
The public questions this move, saying, “If Kim Sae-ron had no personal ties with Kim Soo-hyun, why would she abruptly switch from a prestigious, stable agency to an unknown startup?” Critics argue that this suspicious career move suggests the two may have had deeper personal connections at that time, further complicating Kim Soo-hyun’s attempts to defend himself against allegations.
4. Kim Soo-hyun’s Weak and Insincere Response to the Scandal
Kim Soo-hyun’s agency issued a statement claiming he only dated Kim Sae-ron after she became an adult in 2019. However, the public sees this as insufficient and insincere. Many question why Kim Soo-hyun has not taken immediate and decisive legal action against the allegations if they are indeed false, instead remaining largely silent and hesitant.
Adding fuel to the fire, it was revealed that Kim Soo-hyun used the nickname “Sae-ronero” for Kim Sae-ron during their alleged relationship. Evidence emerged showing he used this nickname even earlier, casting doubt on his claim of only beginning to date after she reached adulthood.
As a result, public suspicion grows stronger, as many question why Kim Soo-hyun has remained largely passive instead of aggressively defending himself and addressing these allegations head-on.
5. Allegations of Kim Soo-hyun’s Role in Kim Sae-ron’s Financial Struggles
Following Kim Sae-ron’s 2022 drunk-driving incident, she faced severe financial troubles, owing over $700,000 in penalties for breaking advertising contracts. Recent claims suggest that Kim Soo-hyun pressured her to repay debts, intensifying her already difficult situation. While Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, denies these accusations, it’s undeniable that Kim Sae-ron suffered immense financial hardship alone prior to her death.
Public suspicion towards Kim Soo-hyun deepened further when it was revealed that the agency which initially covered part of Kim Sae-ron’s penalties after the 2022 DUI incident was none other than Gold Medalist, the company owned by Kim Soo-hyun and his cousin. Kim Sae-ron’s family has also claimed she was made to work unpaid at Gold Medalist after leaving her previous agency.
Due to these factors, many question Kim Soo-hyun’s role, directly or indirectly, in her financial hardship and emotional struggles, adding to public anger against him.
6. Collapse of Kim Soo-hyun’s “Perfect Gentleman” Image and Past Controversial Comments
Kim Soo-hyun had long maintained a spotless image as a respectable, polite actor beloved by the public. However, this scandal has dramatically changed how the public sees him, triggering scrutiny of past questionable behaviors and statements.
For instance, past comments he made toward female actresses are now resurfacing, highlighting issues with his attitude and character. In particular, his remarks during filming for the drama “Moon Embracing the Sun” are being criticized again. At the time, Kim Soo-hyun made comments about actress Kim Yoo-jung, who played the child version of his character’s romantic partner. He publicly stated, “Maybe I saw her too much as a child,” a remark he made dismissively regarding her potential as a romantic interest. Such statements are now considered disrespectful and are resurfacing as evidence of his problematic behavior towards women.
The combination of this scandal with his previously unaddressed comments has severely damaged Kim Soo-hyun’s reputation, leading to broader criticism about his character and integrity. The public now doubts whether the image he carefully built over the years was genuine at all.
This scandal is no longer simply about dating rumors—it has escalated into issues of trust, morality, and responsibility. Kim Soo-hyun’s credibility has collapsed as past denials now appear to have been false.
Although Kim Soo-hyun and his agency have announced their intention to take legal action, without presenting clear evidence to refute these allegations, his acting career may face irreversible damage.
