Controversy sparked over alleged relationship between Kim Soo Hyun and late Kim Sae Ron

Following the tragic suicide of 24-year-old actress Kim Sae Ron last month, South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun has been the talk of the town after allegations surfaced regarding their six-year secret relationship.  

A YouTube channel, HoverLab (also known as Garosero Research), recently alleged that the two actors had been secretly dating since Kim Sae Ron was just 15. 

The channel suggested the actress chose to end her life on Kim Soo Hyun's birthday as she was under pressure to repay the 700 million won in compensation related to her drunk driving incident in 2022. 

The channel previously revealed details of the relationship between the duo -- provided by the actress's family -- including a desperate unanswered text message from Kim Sae Ron to Kim Soo Hyun pleading for more time to repay the debt and an unseen close-up selfie between the two.

In the interview with a woman who claimed to be the actress's aunt, their relationship lasted from November 19, 2015 to July 7, 2021, with Kim Sae Ron being just 15 and Kim Soo Hyun being 12 years older at 27.

The channel announced plans to continue reporting on the case until Kim Soo Hyun issues an apology, with a new photo of Kim Soo Hyun seemingly preparing to kiss Kim Sae Ron posted on the Korean forum on Wednesday (Mar 12), sparking further discussions.

In response to the controversy, Kim Soo Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, refuted the allegations made by HoverLab and announced plans to take legal action against those spreading rumors.

However, as more photos of the pair surfaced, the agency shifted to a more reserved approach.

The allegations now cast a shadow over the 37-year-old actor's career,  known for his heart-warming roles in Korean dramas. 

After one of his representative brands, Dinto, announced the halt of his promotional activities on Wednesday, some Korean netizens found a poster featuring Kim Soo Hyun in a local bakery had been removed.

Others urged commercial brands to boycott the Korean star and cut ties with him.

Additionally, Kim Soo Hyun's fan club, with over 460,000 members, announced their withdrawal from support, posting a message on social media marked "Goodbye to the actor we once admired."

Kim Soo Hyun has lost approximately 200,000 Instagram followers as of Wednesday noon. 

Meanwhile, the filming for the second season of his drama "Knock-off" continued as scheduled, with no immediate impact from the controversy.