Kim Soo-hyun’s Agency Issues Official Statement on Late Kim Sae-ron Allegations—Full Text & Evidence Released

Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, has issued an official statement refuting allegations made by the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (Gaseyeon) regarding his alleged past relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron.

On March 14, Gold Medalist released a statement explaining their position, stating, "We initially planned to release a response with verifiable evidence next week to counter Gaseyeon’s claims. However, early this morning (March 14), Kim Soo-hyun showed signs of severe psychological distress. As a result, we prioritized his well-being and took immediate measures to stabilize him. Kim Soo-hyun is experiencing extreme turmoil due to accusations suggesting that he is responsible for the late actress’s sudden passing. In light of this, we decided to release an urgent statement clarifying the key issues."

The agency further clarified the timeline of Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron’s relationship, stating, "Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were in a relationship from the summer of 2019 until the fall of 2020, after Kim Sae-ron had become an adult. The claims that he dated her when she was a minor are entirely false. The photos shared on Kim Sae-ron’s Instagram Story on March 24, 2024, and the images revealed on Gaseyeon’s broadcast on March 11, 2025, were all taken on the same day during their relationship in the winter of 2020. The clothing worn by Kim Sae-ron in the images was from a brand collection released in June 2019, making it impossible for those pictures to have been taken in 2016, as Gaseyeon falsely claimed."

Gold Medalist also provided metadata proving that another image, released by Gaseyeon on March 12, 2025, was taken on December 24, 2019, on Christmas Eve. "The photo published on March 13, showing them in the same outfits, was also taken on the same day. All of the photos used by Gaseyeon to claim that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor were actually taken after she became an adult. There is no 2016 photograph because the two were not in a relationship at that time," the agency stated.

Regarding a handwritten letter that Kim Soo-hyun allegedly sent to Kim Sae-ron during his military service, the agency clarified, "The letter was one of many that Kim Soo-hyun wrote to close acquaintances while serving in the military. As evident from the content, he was adjusting to military life and frequently sent detailed updates about his daily routine to friends. The phrase ‘I miss you’ was a common, casual expression used by soldiers when writing to close friends. However, Gaseyeon deliberately misrepresented this letter as evidence of a romantic relationship dating back to 2015. They also manipulated Kim Sae-ron’s publicly used nickname from 2016 to make it appear as though it was a private pet name between the two."

Addressing Criticism of Kim Soo-hyun’s Private Life

Gold Medalist acknowledged the criticism surrounding Kim Soo-hyun’s personal life, stating, "Even though his past relationship with Kim Sae-ron was a private matter between two consenting adults, we understand that, as a public figure, Kim Soo-hyun is subject to public scrutiny. He takes this criticism seriously. However, Gaseyeon’s broadcast has led to the spread of numerous falsehoods, turning misinformation into accepted truth."

The agency also challenged the credibility of Gaseyeon’s source, noting that while the informant claimed to be a member of Kim Sae-ron’s family, media reports have suggested that they are merely an acquaintance of her mother. "This individual has been spreading distorted claims based on a few manipulated photos, without even verifying the information with those involved," the statement read.

Denying Claims That Kim Soo-hyun Neglected Kim Sae-ron’s Financial Struggles

Gaseyeon had previously alleged that Kim Soo-hyun abandoned Kim Sae-ron during her financial difficulties, exacerbating her situation after her DUI scandal. The agency refuted this, stating, "Kim Soo-hyun has been falsely painted as the person responsible for her struggles. There are claims that Gold Medalist pressured Kim Sae-ron to pay off debts related to her DUI case, that she sought help from Kim Soo-hyun, and that he ignored her requests—leading to her tragic passing. These allegations are completely false."

According to the agency, Gold Medalist took responsibility for covering the full amount of Kim Sae-ron’s outstanding debt, including contract penalties and compensation for businesses affected by her DUI accident. "At the time of the accident, the total penalty fees amounted to approximately 1.14 billion KRW (around $860,000). We worked extensively to reduce this burden and, through various negotiations, lowered the remaining debt to 700 million KRW (around $530,000). The process also included repairing and selling Kim Sae-ron’s wrecked vehicle to offset some of the costs. Gaseyeon’s claim that we ‘took her car away’ is a distortion of these efforts."

The agency further explained that, despite their financial support, Kim Sae-ron was unable to repay her remaining debts due to her halted career. As a result, Gold Medalist officially wrote off the debt as a company loss in December 2023. "Our financial report from April 1, 2024, confirms that the entirety of Kim Sae-ron’s debt was written off. At no point did we pressure her for repayment," they stated.

The agency also addressed a text message that Kim Sae-ron allegedly sent to Kim Soo-hyun on March 19, 2024, asking for financial assistance. "At that time, Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron had been separated for four years. He was unaware of her financial situation. When he received the message, he immediately consulted our team for clarification. We advised him that, given the legal complexities, he should not respond directly and that the matter should be handled through the proper channels. Gold Medalist then contacted Kim Sae-ron’s legal representatives to resolve any misunderstandings."

The agency added that Kim Sae-ron’s legal team later confirmed in a statement on March 26, 2024, that they had come to an agreement with Gold Medalist regarding the financial matter. "From that point on, Gold Medalist never requested any repayment from Kim Sae-ron, and the matter was considered settled."

In its closing remarks, Gold Medalist condemned the invasion of privacy and the spread of false information. "A photo taken when Kim Sae-ron was an adult has been falsely labeled as a picture from when she was 16. Her mother’s acquaintance has suddenly been introduced as her ‘aunt.’ A single text message was twisted into evidence that Gold Medalist was aggressively demanding money. And now, one year after we officially cleared Kim Sae-ron’s debt, her tragic passing is being linked to these false claims," the agency stated.

Gold Medalist also expressed frustration at how Kim Soo-hyun has been vilified. "Following Gaseyeon’s reports, every aspect of Kim Soo-hyun’s past is being reinterpreted as malicious intent. He has been publicly labeled as the cause of Kim Sae-ron’s tragedy, despite the absence of factual evidence. This reckless invasion of privacy is causing immense distress not only to Kim Soo-hyun but also to those who were close to the late Kim Sae-ron. The idea that someone must endure such a level of scrutiny over their private life, without consent, is deeply troubling."

They concluded, "We understand that the public has a right to form opinions about public figures. However, the spread of false information and relentless personal attacks must not be accepted as the norm. We will take all necessary steps to address these malicious claims and protect the truth."