Actor Kim Soo-hyun (김수현)’s reputation has been severely damaged as allegations about his relationship with Kim Saeron (김새론) have become increasingly serious. The situation has escalated to the point where the celebrity is reportedly expected to pay over KRW 20 billion (approximately RM61,113,274) in advertisement penalty fees.
The 37-year-old’s agency confirmed their relationship but has denied the allegations of him dating Saeron when she was a minor, insisting that they were together once she was an adult. Regardless, netizens remain unconvinced and unforgiving, having delved further into his past. Recently, new images surfaced allegedly showing the star doing chores at the late actress’s house sometime in 2020.
The YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute has repeatedly urged Kim Soo-hyun to admit to the accusations and apologise for allegedly driving Kim Saeron to her death. They have warned that failure to do so will result in the release of more evidence against him. Reporter Kim Se-ui has released more explicit photos on the channel, allegedly showing the actor doing dishes without wearing pants at the late actress’s house.
Despite the Saeron family’s objection to the publication of these photos, the YouTube channel proceeded anyway. The new images have since sparked debate among netizens. Some argued that it could have been anyone, as the man’s face is not visible, while others suggested that the photos may not have been taken at the deceased’s home.
Although there is no direct evidence confirming that the person in the photos is Kim Soo-hyun, fans have shared screenshots from Kim Saeron’s appearance on the variety show “On & Off”, where her kitchen and other parts of her home were featured. The layout appears to match the setting in the newly released photos. Fans of the actor argued that even if it were him in the photos, they appear to have been taken in 2020. This would support his claim that he dated Saeron after she reached adulthood, as she would have been 20 years old at the time.
These weren’t the only images to emerge recently. It was reported that Kim Soo-hyun posted on his Bubble account a week after Kim Saeron’s death, which also coincided with his birthday. On 23rd February, the actor wrote about celebrating his birthday and attending G-Dragon’s album listening party. This post sparked outrage among netizens, who criticised him for not acknowledging the late actress’s death—particularly since he had confirmed their past relationship.
As mentioned, Garosero Research Institute stated they will continue to post more evidence against the actor if he doesn’t comply with their requests. Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency GOLDMEDALIST will reportedly take legal actions against the accusers.
