By Baek Byung-yeul
Actor Kim Soo-hyun is facing backlash amid an escalating dispute with the family of the late actor Kim Sae-ron, who was found dead at her home last month. The bereaved family alleges that the two had been in a romantic relationship since Kim Sae-ron was a minor, a claim denied by Kim Soo-hyun’s agency.
Beyond the allegations that Kim Soo-hyun began dating Kim Sae-ron when she was 15, he is facing strong public criticism for initially denying any relationship with her. The public is particularly upset over why this immensely popular actor, both in Korea and internationally, later shifted his stance, claiming they had not met while she was underage.
On Saturday, the YouTube channel HoverLab released additional statements from Kim Sae-ron’s family, demanding that Kim Soo-hyun acknowledge and apologize for their relationship while Kim Sae-ron was underage.
They also called for an official apology from Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, for denying their relationship for the past three years and for failing to acknowledge Kim Sae-ron’s contributions as a founding member of the company. Additionally, they requested an apology for sending Kim Sae-ron a notice demanding the repayment of 700 million won ($482,396).
The core of the dispute between the actor and the bereaved family centers on whether their relationship began when the late actor was underage.
The dispute began on March 10, when Kim Sae-ron’s family, through HoverLab, claimed that the two had been in a relationship for six years since 2016 when Kim Sae-ron was 15 years old.
They provided evidence such as handwritten letters from Kim Soo-hyun during his military service and photos of him kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek. They also alleged that Gold Medalist pressured Kim Sae-ron to pay a 700 million won penalty for a drunk driving incident in May 2022.
Gold Medalist, the company co-owned 100 percent by Kim Soo-hyun and his cousin Lee Ro-be, responded with a lengthy statement on March 14, stating that the two dated from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after Kim Sae-ron had become an adult.
The company also denied neglecting Kim Sae-ron’s financial difficulties, claiming it had paid the penalty that arose from the drunk driving incident during the later stages of filming for the 2023 Netflix series “Bloodhounds,” which disrupted the production schedule.
The company said it covered the resulting penalty owed to the production company and she was not notified of the fine, but only because the company was required to do so as part of dealing with it as a financial loss.
In response, Kim Sae-ron’s mother argued through HoverLab that Gold Medalist had misportrayed Kim Sae-ron.
“Gold Medalist also falsely portrayed Sae-ron as a confused young woman who lied, saying they ‘don’t know the intention’ of the photo Sae-ron uploaded. My daughter was not someone who only enjoyed entertainment with friends, and she never caused a dating scandal with manipulated photos,” the mother said.
HoverLab also released a photo of Kim Soo-hyun on Saturday allegedly washing dishes at Kim Sae-ron’s home without wearing pants. They claimed that this was not a secretly taken photo and that Kim Soo-hyun was aware he was being photographed.
In response, Gold Medalist requested that the distribution of private photos be stopped and suggested a meeting with the bereaved family to provide a full explanation.
“We do not believe it is appropriate to publicly argue over right and wrong. We are expressing deep sympathy for the mother’s concerns regarding various reports about the deceased,” the company said. “We would like to meet with the mother along with our management team to provide a full explanation.”
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