"Knife Marks on Her Neck…" Kim Sae-ron’s Final Call Recording Released

YouTuber Lee Jin-ho has released another phone recording related to the late Kim Sae-ron.

On March 20, the YouTube channel Entertainment President Lee Jin-ho uploaded a video titled "Shocking Recording! The Real Reason Kim Sae-ron Was Struggling." The recording captures conversations between two men, identified as A and B, on February 16 at 9:39 PM and 10:14 PM—the day Kim Sae-ron passed away.

Lee described A as a "new agency official" and B as "Kim Sae-ron’s close friend." He also clarified that A was not affiliated with Gold Medalist, the agency representing actor Kim Soo-hyun. In the recording, B addresses A as "Director."

A, seemingly in shock over Kim Sae-ron’s death, reacts with, "Ah… What is happening…?" B also sighs, saying, "I just saw her two days ago…" B recalls their last meeting, saying, "She seemed fine. We played screen golf, had a meal together…"

When A asks, "What did she say about her trip to the U.S.?" B responds, "I think it was because of the guy she met there. He hit her. I have photos of the assault." He then adds, "Honestly, Kim Sae-ron was my only close friend…" trailing off.

In a second call, A asks, "Did you see her often after she returned from the U.S.?" B replies that they met twice, adding, "That guy (the one she met in the U.S.) even contacted me and cursed at me. I didn’t respond, though I wanted to, for Sae-ron’s sake… Then he called me from another number and cursed again. That was the last time. Sae-ron kept apologizing to me, saying he was violent and threatened her. She even showed me pictures of her neck with knife marks, saying it was real. I just told her, ‘That must’ve been really tough…’"

B further states, "Her friends think—though it’s not certain—that the man might have pushed her to take extreme measures. He verbally abused her and kept threatening her." A lets out a deep sigh, saying, "What the hell is this…"

When B mentions that he and Kim Sae-ron’s friends plan to visit her funeral home, A responds, "Will that even be possible? Her mother isn’t answering calls. Let me know once the funeral arrangements are confirmed."

The "man from the U.S." mentioned in the recording is reportedly the same person from another leaked conversation revealed by Lee Jin-ho on March 19. He is believed to be the husband linked to Kim Sae-ron’s rumored marriage.

That conversation, recorded on January 8 at 8:55 AM (KST), was between Kim Sae-ron and a man identified as A, an official from an unspecified agency. Lee referred to it as her "new agency."

According to official records, Kim Sae-ron was signed with Fantagio from 2009 to 2016, YG Entertainment from 2016 to 2019, and Gold Medalist from 2020. Her contract with Gold Medalist was terminated at the end of December 2022.

In the leaked recording, Kim Sae-ron and A discuss a certain incident. Kim’s voice is heard without alteration, while A’s voice was modified.

Back in January, Kim Sae-ron’s social media post sparked rumors when she shared several images that appeared to be wedding photos with the caption "Marry." The speculation about her marriage was dismissed by her team, stating, "They were just snapshots taken with a friend. The marriage rumors are false."

However, in the leaked call, Kim Sae-ron tells A, "I didn’t post the photos. My boyfriend (B) did." A responds, "You need to be clear with me. Reporters keep calling. The guy you were with on Christmas (C) isn’t the same person. So, did you actually get married?" Kim Sae-ron answers, "Yes," adding that the ceremony was held in the U.S.

She further explains, "I was dating my ex (C), but we broke up. I even told him that I had a new boyfriend (B). I wanted to break up with B too and not get married, but I got pregnant."

A, shocked, asks, "Are you pregnant?" to which Kim Sae-ron replies, "I had an abortion. He (B) used the pregnancy to blackmail me into marriage."

Kim Sae-ron describes B as a regular office worker at a major corporation in New York, introduced to her through acquaintances.

She continues, "I even deleted my KakaoTalk. He took over my accounts—KakaoTalk, Instagram—I couldn’t do anything. I could only use Telegram and text messages occasionally. He kept pressuring me to make the marriage public, saying he didn’t understand why I was hiding it. That’s why we fought, and he uploaded those photos."

Kim Sae-ron also admits, "I never imagined I’d marry someone like him." When A asks, "Do his parents know?" she confirms, "Yes." When pressed, "Did they approve?" she hesitates before responding, "He’s actually a normal guy… but when he drinks, he changes."

On March 20, YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute reported that Kim Sae-ron’s family denied knowing anything about her alleged marriage. Regarding the abortion claims, the family stated, "We can’t understand why she would say something like that to her manager."

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