Kim Soo-hyun's Appearance on Good Day Amid Controversy

In the wake of the tragic passing of actress Kim Sae-ron on March 16, 2025, actor Kim Soo-hyun has found himself embroiled in various controversies, including grooming allegations. Despite the negative public sentiment, he participated in the recording of MBC's Good Day and appeared in full shots during the broadcast.

Following Kim Sae-ron's death, claims from the YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Research Institute' (가로세로연구소) suggested that Kim Soo-hyun was a significant factor leading to her demise. According to the channel and the deceased's family, Kim Soo-hyun allegedly dated Kim Sae-ron from 2015 to 2021 when she was a minor and pressured her to repay 700 million KRW after her DUI incident in 2022, which led to her career halt and financial struggles.

Kim Soo-hyun's team has firmly denied these allegations, labeling them as falsehoods and promising strong legal action. They stated that the claims of a romantic relationship during Kim Sae-ron's minor years are untrue and that they never demanded repayment after writing off the debt.

Kim Sae-ron's mother also spoke out against the allegations, asserting that her daughter never lied to the media or engaged in any deceptive behavior. She expressed a desire for the family to restore Kim Sae-ron's reputation and for the media to be held accountable for spreading false information.

Public opinion regarding Kim Soo-hyun has been largely negative, leading brands that had previously endorsed him to sever ties. The backlash has also affected the projects he is involved in, including his current filming for Disney+'s Knock Off and his role on Good Day. Despite the ongoing controversy, the recording for Good Day proceeded, and Kim Soo-hyun was featured prominently in the episode aired on March 16.

The production company TEO took public sentiment into account and approached the situation with caution. They ensured that Kim Soo-hyun's segments were recorded in a way that minimized overlap with other cast members, anticipating potential edits. Due to the tight schedule for international broadcasts, the fifth episode aired with approximately ten minutes less content and fewer details than usual.

The Good Day team stated, "As long as controversies surrounding the cast persist, the original intent of Good Day and the heartfelt support from viewers may continue to be undermined. The content filmed on February 18 will unfold over the next 6-7 episodes, and we have decided to edit out as much of Kim Soo-hyun's appearance as possible."

They further committed to ensuring that the remaining broadcasts would provide enjoyment to viewers while being mindful of the sentiments of the participating cast members.

In a related development, the legal representatives of Kim Sae-ron's family announced on March 17 that they would file a defamation lawsuit against YouTuber Lee Jin-ho for spreading false information.