“Kim Soo-hyun Skips Kim Sae-ron's Funeral?” Garo Sero Institute Fires Back—BTS Pulled In

On March 10, YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Institute' fired back at Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, which had announced plans for strong legal action over allegations that the actor dated the late Kim Sae-ron when she was just 15 years old.

The controversy erupted after Garo Sero Institute aired a broadcast featuring Kim Sae-ron’s aunt, who claimed that the actress had been in a six-year relationship with Kim Soo-hyun starting when she was 15. The channel also alleged that Gold Medalist, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, had demanded a hefty penalty fee from Kim Sae-ron following her 2022 DUI incident.

In response, Kim Soo-hyun’s representatives vehemently denied the claims, stating, "These are entirely false allegations, and we are reviewing the strongest possible legal action."

However, Garo Sero Institute dismissed the agency’s legal threat, responding with a mocking post on its YouTube channel: "Kim Soo-hyun must not know who Kim Se-ui (one of our members) is, lol. Legal action? Even BTS once threatened to sue Garo Sero Institute—and what happened? They all ended up enlisting. And now, this so-called top Hallyu star, Kim Soo-hyun, who’s only big in China, thinks he can take us on? 😂 We didn’t just pull these claims out of thin air—we based them on documents and interviews directly from Kim Sae-ron’s family. Why doesn’t he try suing them too? Lol."

The channel went on to criticize Kim Soo-hyun’s absence from Kim Sae-ron’s funeral, stating, "Even Won Bin attended, but where was Kim Soo-hyun? At the very least, he should have shown some basic human decency."

BTS Dragged Into the Controversy?

As the dispute escalated, Garo Sero Institute’s past conflicts with BTS resurfaced. The channel has previously made multiple claims about the group’s military enlistment and other rumors. Now, with BTS being name-dropped in the Kim Soo-hyun scandal, fans are revisiting Garo Sero Institute’s history of targeting high-profile K-pop and K-drama figures.

Meanwhile, Gold Medalist reiterated its firm stance against the allegations, stating, "The claims made by Garo Sero Institute are baseless and malicious. We will be pursuing the strongest legal measures possible." With both sides standing their ground, attention is now focused on how the legal battle will unfold.

Kim Sae-ron’s Passing & The Coincidental Timing

Kim Sae-ron had been inactive in the entertainment industry since her DUI scandal in May 2022, which led to her contract with Gold Medalist expiring in December of that year. She had since been working without an agency.

Tragically, on February 16, 2025, Kim Sae-ron was found deceased in her home in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. The timing of her passing also drew attention, as it happened to be Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday. Just before the news broke, Kim Soo-hyun had shared a joyful social media post celebrating gifts from fans, only for Kim Sae-ron’s death to be reported shortly afterward.

As the legal dispute unfolds, the situation remains one of the most talked-about controversies in Korean entertainment.