Kim Soo-hyun Addresses Personal Controversy in Press Conference

On March 31, 2025, actor Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference at the Stanford Hotel in Sangam-dong, Seoul, to address ongoing personal controversies. During the event, he firmly denied allegations regarding his relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron, stating, "We did not date during her minor years." He acknowledged their past relationship but emphasized that it was a normal romantic connection, similar to any other couple, and clarified that they had dated for a year, four years prior to the airing of 'Queen of Tears' (눈물의 여왕) in 2024.

The controversy escalated when the YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Research Institute' and Kim Sae-ron's family claimed that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a five-year relationship with her since she was a minor, presenting what they claimed were KakaoTalk messages from 2016 and 2018 as evidence. Kim Soo-hyun refuted these claims, arguing that the messages contained numerous inaccuracies and could not have been written by Kim Sae-ron. He stated, "The details about our age difference and the name of the agency we were both part of were incorrect. She was only active as an actress under our agency and had no involvement in casting or visual directing."

Furthermore, Kim Soo-hyun criticized the framing of the messages as evidence of inappropriate behavior, asserting that he had submitted the messages to a verification agency, which concluded that the individuals in the messages were not the same person.

He described the evidence presented by the Garo Sero Research Institute and the family as largely fabricated, stating, "Whenever we respond to the family's claims, new recordings and manipulated evidence seem to emerge. Just because falsehoods are repeated does not make them true. I will ensure that all evidence presented by the family is thoroughly investigated by the authorities. If their evidence is genuine, I urge them to submit it for legal verification."

In an emotional appeal, Kim Soo-hyun expressed his distress over the situation, saying, "Every time our private lives are exposed, I think about just revealing everything to end this hellish situation. But I hesitate, worrying about the impact on those around me. I have people who depend on me, and I see them suffering daily. I want to clarify that I have not done what I am accused of. I will prove my innocence for those who believe in me."

Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, have filed a lawsuit seeking 12 billion KRW in damages against Kim Sae-ron's family and the Garo Sero Research Institute. Their legal representative stated that they are pursuing both criminal and civil actions to clarify the facts surrounding the case.

Currently, Kim Soo-hyun is facing significant backlash, having canceled a fan meeting in Taiwan and postponed the release of the Disney+ original series 'Knock Off.' Additionally, he is experiencing a wave of withdrawals from advertising contracts. The outcome of his rebuttal and the evidence he presents will be closely watched.