Kim Soo-hyun admits to dating Kim Sae-ron, denies allegations of underage relationship

Korean star Kim Soo-hyun denied allegations that he dated late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor, noting that she was already an adult when the relationship began in the summer of 2019 and that it lasted for just over a year until fall 2020.
 
His agency, Gold Medalist, issued a statement on Friday denying allegations of Kim Soo-hyun engaging in an underage relationship. The agency also refuted claims that it pressured Kim Sae-ron over a 700 million won debt.

It is understood that the agency originally planned to issue an official response next week but decided to release a statement early, saying that Kim Soo-hyun was experiencing emotional distress over the accusations, online comments and false information spreading online.
 
Gold Medalist dismissed the claims made by the YouTube channel Hoverlab, also known as Garo Sero Institute, on March 11 that the two dated since 2015 when Kim Sae-ron was 15, arguing that the photos presented during the YouTube channel’s live session as evidence were taken after she had turned 18.
 
“All photos used to claim an underage relationship were taken when she was legally an adult,” the agency said, adding that the T-shirt worn by the late actor, for example, was released by the specific brand in 2019, “which proves that the photo could not have been taken in 2016 as Hoverlab falsely claimed.”  
 
The agency also stated that it has metadata of the photographs confirming when the photographs were taken.  

While acknowledging the relationship, the agency said false rumors must stop. “Many people are now treating inaccurate information and unverified claims as truth. These are baseless rumors spread without even verifying with those involved. It also invades the late actress’s privacy and tarnishes her reputation,” it said.
 
It also rejected claims that Kim Soo-hyun was responsible for Kim Sae-ron’s financial struggles before her death.

This included penalties related to her canceled acting projects and compensation to businesses affected by the incident, amounting to about 1.14 billion won.

The agency said it covered her outstanding debts related to her 2022 DUI accident. Gold Medalist, a company founded by Kim Soo-hyun and his cousin in 2019, had represented her during that period.  
 
Gold Medalist clarified that it worked to reduce her financial burden, which came down to 700 million won, and ultimately wrote off her remaining debt in December 2023.
 
It stressed that Kim Soo-hyun had no personal financial ties with Kim Sae-ron and never pressured her to repay the money.
 
The statement concluded, “Kim Soo-hyun is now being wrongfully portrayed as the cause of the late actress’s tragic end. Since the Garo Sero report, all of his past actions are being misinterpreted as deliberate wrongdoing. Just because he is a public figure does not mean he must accept endless false accusations and personal attacks.”

(Staff reporter with input from Korea JoongAng Daily and The Korea Times)