Family of Late Actress Kim Sae-ron Reveals Evidence of Underage Relationship with Kim Soo-hyun

On March 27, 2025, the family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron held a press conference where they disclosed evidence of her alleged six-year relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun, which began when they were both minors. The conference took place at the Space Share Gangnam Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and was led by the family's legal representative, attorney Bu Ji-seok, along with Kim Se-yeon, the head of the Garoseoro Research Institute.

The family previously claimed through the YouTube channel Garoseoro Research Institute that Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship since she was 15 years old. They alleged that after Kim Sae-ron's DUI incident in 2022, which led to her career halt and financial struggles, she was pressured to repay 700 million KRW borrowed for accident settlements.

In response, Gold Medalist, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, acknowledged the relationship but clarified that it only occurred from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, asserting that the legal notice sent was merely a procedural step regarding the agency's financial losses from Kim Sae-ron's DUI incident, and not a demand for repayment.

Attorney Bu Ji-seok emphasized that the family aims to put an end to the controversy by presenting evidence, stating, "This press conference is not about revealing the reasons behind Kim Sae-ron's tragic end, and the family wishes to avoid any further pointless disputes over the truth."

The evidence presented included KakaoTalk messages exchanged between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron from 2016, as well as messages Kim Sae-ron sent to friends after receiving the legal notice. In one message, she expressed despair, saying, "If I applied knowing this, it means I have nothing, so just tell me to kill myself," to which a friend responded incredulously about the 700 million KRW amount.

Additionally, attorney Bu revealed a photo of Kim Sae-ron's self-harm from April 13, 2022, stating it was necessary to illustrate her mental state after receiving the legal notice. He also mentioned that the family had contacted a suicide prevention center and was aware of her self-harm, questioning how any parent could remain passive upon learning such distressing information.

Furthermore, the attorney shared a handwritten letter Kim Sae-ron intended to send to Kim Soo-hyun, which expressed sentiments about their five to six-year relationship, referring to him as her first and last love. She had planned to deliver the letter in early April 2022 but was unable to do so due to access restrictions at his apartment.

The letter included a plea for Kim Soo-hyun not to avoid her, highlighting the emotional weight of their connection.