South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun is confirmed not to attend the music festival in Kaohsiung, Taiwan next week after the public controversy over his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron.
The organizer of the "Sakura Festival 2025" initially stated that Kim would visit Taiwan as planned after Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chi-mai urged the organizer to practice extra caution given the public interest regarding the controversy.
The organizer later announced Kim would not attend the music festival on March 30. The statement noted that Kim's absence was due to schedule conflicts, and refunds for the audience would be arranged.
Separately, an ex-boyfriend of the late Kim Sae Ron has recently come forward and strongly opposed any claims connecting her demise to her relationship with actor Kim Soo Hyun.
Following the late actress' passing, the YouTube channel Garosero Research has been revealing her relationship with Kim Soo Hyun gradually, which later escalated into a legal battle.
Kim Sae Ron's ex-boyfriend steps in
Identified himself as "K", the ex-boyfriend of Kim Sae Ron stated that the late actress' death is not related to Kim Soo Hyun.
In an interview with the South Korean media outlet, The Fact, K said there are many unrevealed details that need to come to the light to bring peace to her soul.
He claimed that Kim Sae Ron has been suffering emotional distress after entering into a relationship with a man in New York last November, who later became her husband in early 2024.
When Kim tried to reach out to K for comfort, her husband verbally degraded her, even confiscating her phone after discovering their messages.
K cited a text message from Kim's husband on January 13, which told Kim to stop contacting other men by describing her life as trash that needed to be cleaned up.
K further revealed that Kim had resorted to self-harm to cope with her emotional distress, referencing Kim's message where she wished for K's happiness and fear of leaving her husband.
Criticism of Kim's family
K claimed Kim had nearly cut her ties with her family, recounting the time when her family was absent after being notified of Kim's hospitalization for severe self-harm injuries last November.
It is reported that Kim's manager paid the hospital fee while K was standing by her side. After Kim was discharged from the hospital, K revealed that her family appeared unbothered, casually eating when he took her home.
To support his claims, K has shared the records revealing that Kim Sae Ron had sought financial help from friends for surgery which cost millions won while being reluctant to contact her family.
Moreover, K criticized Kim's aunt for attributing her death to her relationship with Kim Soo Hyun, stressing that it was her family she may have wanted to escape from most.
As Kim's family disclosed earlier that they were unaware of their daughter's marriage, K said it is proof they had not kept in touch with her, raising questions about the family's motivation in bringing up her relationship with the famous actor.
K also expressed sympathy for Kim Soo Hyun.
