Late Actress Kim Sae-ron’s Family Files Lawsuit Against YouTuber on the 17th

The family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron is pursuing legal action against YouTuber A for alleged defamation. Their attorney, Bu Ji-seok of Law Firm Buyu, will officially file the complaint on March 17 at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, where he is also expected to hold a brief press conference at 2 p.m.

The dispute stems from claims that YouTuber A falsely portrayed a photo of Kim Soo-hyun posted by Kim Sae-ron as a "self-leaked dating picture." Following her passing, the YouTuber reportedly removed or privatized all related videos.

Since March 10, the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (Ga Se-yeon) has been at the center of controversy, alleging that Kim and actor Kim Soo-hyun were in a romantic relationship for six years, dating back to 2016 when she was 15. The channel cited supposed evidence, including a handwritten letter allegedly sent by Kim Soo-hyun during his military service and a picture of him kissing Kim Sae-ron’s cheek. Additionally, they claimed that Kim was under financial strain, facing a 700-million-KRW contract penalty from her former agency, Gold Medalist.

In response, Gold Medalist issued a statement on March 14, denying that Kim Soo-hyun was in a relationship with Kim Sae-ron as a minor. The agency clarified that they had only dated between the summer of 2019 and fall of 2020, when she was legally an adult. They also refuted claims of financial neglect, asserting that they had fully covered Kim’s multi-billion-won debt.

Kim Sae-ron’s mother later spoke through Ga Se-yeon, accusing Gold Medalist of distorting the truth and misrepresenting her daughter’s character. She emphasized that Kim had never deliberately fabricated photos to create dating rumors or engaged in reckless behavior.

On March 15, Gold Medalist released another statement, expressing their wish to resolve the situation privately rather than engaging in a public dispute. They extended an invitation to meet with Kim Sae-ron’s mother for further discussion.

That same evening, Ga Se-yeon held a live broadcast sharing more details from the late actress’s family. They demanded that Kim Soo-hyun acknowledge and apologize for the alleged underage relationship, while also calling on Gold Medalist to retract previous denials and recognize Kim’s contributions to the agency. Additionally, they insisted that the company acknowledge and apologize for issuing a legal notice regarding the 700-million-KRW debt.