The South Korean entertainment industry recently mourned the loss of Kim Sae-ron (김새론) at the age of 24 last month. However, the public attention hasn’t shifted and rumours regarding the cause of the actress’ passing still sparks controversy. Recently, serious allegations have emerged against the renowned actor Kim Soo-hyun (김수현), bringing up his relationship to the late actress.
The controversy began when Kim Sae Ron’s aunt appeared on the YouTube channel “Garosero Research Institute”, known for its contentious content. During her appearance, she alleged that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron had been in a romantic relationship when Kim Sae Ron was 15 years old and Kim Soo Hyun was 27. She claimed that this relationship lasted six years, from 2015 to 2021.

Shockingly, the aunt accused Kim Soo Hyun of contributing to Kim Sae Ron’s tragic death, suggesting that his actions led to her suicide. According to the aunt, Kim Sae Ron joined Kim Soo Hyun’s management company, Gold Medalist, in 2019, to provide assistance in talent direction and acting lessons without compensation. The relationship reportedly ended following Kim Sae Ron’s involvement in a drunk driving incident in 2022.
The aunt alleged that Gold Medalist covered damages from the incident amounting to KRW700 million (approximately RM2,130,324) and insisted that Kim Sae Ron did not have to pay it back. However, the agency later demanded repayment, leading to financial and emotional distress for the late actress. The aunt claimed the sudden demand for repayment came as a shock to the actress, prompting her to attempt to contact the 37-year-old actor. However, all her efforts were unsuccessful.
Later on, while Kim Soo Hyun’s K-drama “Queen of Tears” was airing, Kim Sae Ron briefly posted a photo of the two on her Instagram, hoping to provoke a reaction from him to call her back. However, his agency swiftly denied all allegations, asserting that they had no contact with her. Interestingly, the YouTube channel also pointed out the fact that Kim Sae Ron took her own life on Kim Soo Hyun’s birthday (16th February 2025), implying that there may be a reason for choosing that date.

In response to these allegations, Gold Medalist issued an official statement, denying all claims made by “Garosero Research Institute”. The agency labelled the accusations as “malicious” and “entirely false,” stating that they cannot overlook such defamatory statements. They also expressed deep sorrow over Kim Sae Ron’s passing and mourning her loss.
The public’s reaction to these allegations has been mixed, with some expressing shock and others urging caution until all facts are verified. What do you think?
Source: Twitter
Nakhla Sabrina contributed to this article