The controversy surrounding South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun's alleged relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron has intensified after her family filed a lawsuit accusing him of violating the Child Welfare Act and making false accusations. The claims are supported by a recently revealed audio recording.
YouTuber Kim Se-ui, host of Garosero Research, stated during a Wednesday (May 7) press conference that "Kim Soo-hyun's serious crime will be revealed." The family's legal representative, Bu Ji-seok, emphasized the conference aimed to protect the individual holding evidence against the actor.
According to reports, the informant possessed a 90-minute recorded conversation with the late actress, allegedly made with her consent, which has been submitted to authorities for investigation.
Kim Se-ui disclosed that the informant was reportedly assaulted in the United States, suffering nine stab wounds to the neck. The YouTuber stressed the press conference's primary purpose was to ensure the informant's safety.
The YouTuber claimed the actor's representatives offered 4 billion won (approximately HK$22 million) to purchase compromising evidence, but the informant refused. Following an April 30 attack, the victim remains unconscious in critical condition, with photos showing severe neck, shoulder, and hand injuries requiring 32 stitches. Kim Se-ui stated the FBI is investigating what appears to be a premeditated crime.
The presented recording, believed to be from January in New Jersey, allegedly contains the late actress admitting to a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun beginning when she was a minor. She reportedly claimed their sexual relationship started during her second year of middle school.
The recording also allegedly reveals sexual harassment allegations from that period, prompting the family's lawsuit for Child Welfare Act violations and falsification. It purportedly documents inappropriate behavior by the actor, including sharing secretly taken photos, making lewd comments, and sending explicit images.
Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, immediately denied all allegations after the conference, announcing plans to sue for stalking and defamation. They challenged the recording's authenticity, claiming AI fabrication, and identified the informant as a known scammer who had previously approached the company.
The agency also disputed the injury photographs' legitimacy, asserting some images were sourced from online platforms, presenting screenshots as evidence of their claims.
