South Korean superstar actor Kim Soo Hyun has publicly addressed a scandal surrounding his relationship with late actress Kim Sae-Ron for the first time, an issue that has rocked the country’s entertainment industry.
During an emotional press conference on Monday, March 31 (Korean time), a tearful Kim Soo Hyun, 37, firmly denied allegations made by a YouTube channel in March, claiming he had dated Kim Sae-Ron when she was still a minor. He has consistently refuted these accusations.
“I did not date her when she was a minor,” Kim stated at the press conference, where he chose not to take questions from the media. “Aside from being fellow actors, we were just an ordinary couple. We had feelings for each other, but as time went on, we eventually parted ways and rarely kept in touch.”
Following the press conference, a lawyer representing Kim and his agency, Gold Medalist, announced that they would be filing a lawsuit against several parties, including the YouTube channel and Kim Sae-Ron’s family, for defamation and violations of information protection.
Kim Sae-Ron was found deceased at her home in February at the age of 24, nearly two years after withdrawing from the public eye due to a drunk-driving conviction that resulted in significant backlash and damage to her reputation.
The allegations made by a YouTube channel known for covering political news have ignited an online firestorm against Kim Soo Hyun, despite his denials.
According to the Chosun Ilbo, a prominent South Korean newspaper, Kim’s talent agency stated that while the two actors did have a relationship, it occurred when both were adults.
Kim Soo Hyun also asserted that many of the text messages circulating online, supposedly exchanged between him and Kim Sae-Ron, are fabricated.
The damage to the actor’s reputation has been rapid, with luxury fashion brand Prada and popular Korean cosmetics company Dinto both severing their partnerships with him in the wake of the scandal.
Kim Soo Hyun is best known for his acclaimed roles in the series “It’s Okay to Not be Okay” and “My Love from the Star.”
On Monday, he also expressed regret for remaining silent when the relationship allegations first surfaced last year, explaining that he was concerned about the potential impact on his recently released Netflix series “Queen of Tears.” “If you want to criticize me for being cowardly or selfish, I will accept that,” he admitted.
Kim Sae-Ron, the late actress, rose to fame as a child star, but her career faced challenges after a car crash in South Korea’s capital in 2022. In April 2023, a Seoul court convicted her of driving under the influence. While she avoided jail time, she was fined approximately $14,000.
Authorities have reported no signs of foul play and are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
