Controversy Surrounds Late Kim Sae-ron's Alleged Relationship with Kim Soo-hyun

Following the tragic passing of actress Kim Sae-ron on March 16, 2025, her family has initiated a digital forensic examination of her phone to substantiate allegations against actor Kim Soo-hyun regarding their purported relationship during her minor years. The family claims that Kim Soo-hyun was involved with Kim Sae-ron from 2015 to 2021, despite her being a minor, and that he pressured her to repay a loan of 700 million KRW after her DUI incident in 2022, which led to her career halt and financial struggles.

In response, Kim Soo-hyun's representatives have denied these claims, asserting that he never dated Kim Sae-ron during her underage years and that they had written off any debts related to her. They expressed concern over the public statements made by Kim Sae-ron's mother and the ongoing leaks of private photos, stating, "There seem to be discrepancies between our understanding and the claims made by her mother. We believe it is inappropriate to publicly debate these matters, as it could further harm the reputation of both the deceased and her family. We would like to meet with her mother to provide a thorough explanation."

The family has demanded a formal apology from Kim Soo-hyun and has filed a defamation lawsuit against a YouTuber, referred to as A, who has been discussing the allegations. On March 17, the family's legal representative submitted a complaint to the Seoul Police, explaining that Kim Sae-ron had been in distress after receiving a notice regarding her relationship with Kim Soo-hyun and had sent messages pleading for help. They claimed that after receiving no response, she posted old photos of them together in hopes of rekindling communication, which A misrepresented as a publicity stunt.

A has since stated that they will present evidence to clear their name and emphasized that if they are found responsible for any wrongdoing, they will accept the consequences. They also mentioned that they possess undisclosed evidence that will be submitted to the authorities to correct any false narratives.

On March 19, A claimed on their channel that Kim Sae-ron had been married in the U.S. and had a child. They referenced a wedding-themed photo posted by Kim Sae-ron on her social media in January, asserting that it confirmed her marriage. A also released a transcript of a conversation purportedly between a manager from a new agency and a woman believed to be Kim Sae-ron, where she allegedly confirmed the marriage and discussed the circumstances surrounding it.

The transcript revealed that the woman stated, "The wedding photos were posted by my boyfriend. We did get married abroad. I was initially planning to break up, but I became pregnant. I had to marry because of the child. My boyfriend works at a large company in New York."

Despite A's rebuttals, netizens have expressed confusion, questioning the relevance of these claims to the original allegations against Kim Soo-hyun. Meanwhile, Kim Sae-ron's family is set to proceed with the phone forensic analysis to gather evidence supporting their claims regarding her relationship with Kim Soo-hyun.