Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron’s dating scandal has rocked the Korean entertainment industry. From alleged photos to text messages and secret letters, disturbing revelations have emerged since the popular YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute first accused the Queen of Stars actor of dating a minor back in 2015. Now, a new development has triggered more conspiracy theories online. According to K-media outlet K-14, the founder of the Garosero Institute, Kim Yong Ho, was the first reporter to uncover the relationship between the two stars before his sudden death two years ago.
However, as reported by KBIZOOm, before his passing, Kim Yong Ho had been embroiled in a sexual harassment case in Busan. This resulted in a “two-year suspended prison sentence, alongside 120 hours of community service and mandatory sexual assault prevention education.” As the details of his tragic end resurfaced online, the case surrounding the Garosero reporter made its way to the top of Weibo’s trending entertainment searches.
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Also read: Kim Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron from 2019-2020, agency confirms: ‘She was an adult’
Who was Kim Yong Ho?
Kim Yong Ho made a name for himself covering high-profile celebrity scandals, though his line of work was often steeped in controversy. Over the years, he reported on some of the biggest cases in South Korea, involving A-list stars like Jun Ji Hyun, Han Ye Seul, Choi Ji Woo, Seo Ye Ji, and Song Hye Kyo.
He was best known as the founder and operator of the YouTube channel Garosero Institute. The channel first gained major attention for its explosive coverage of Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo’s highly publicised divorce. The former couple, who tied the knot after starring together in the 2016 K-drama Descendants of the Sun, shocked fans when they parted ways shortly after. Garosero started rumours about Joong Ki’s alleged new relationship.
Also Read: ‘Kim Soo Hyun painted as villain’: Agency sets the record straight on Kim Sae Ron’s debt controversy
Garosero has also been involved in other scandals, including the controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun’s former co-star, Seo Ye Ji. In early 2021, the channel made headlines by accusing Seo Ye Ji of manipulative behavior towards her then-boyfriend and those around her.
Fast forward to now. The YouTube channel has allegedly threatened to expose private photos of Kim Soo Hyun with Kim Sae Ron unless he comes forward and apologises for his actions. According to the channel, Soo Hyun and Sae Ron had an affair that lasted six years. However, Soo Hyun’s agency, Goldmedalist, denied the claims. In a detailed statement released on March 14, the agency clarified that the two were only involved from 2019 until the fall of 2020. Tragically, Sae Ron passed away on February 16, 2025.
