Kim Soo Hyun apologizes, denies dating late Kim Sae Ron when she was underage

South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun on Monday publicly apologized over underage dating allegations with the late actress Kim Sae Ron during a press conference, marking his first direct response in 21 days amid ongoing rumors of their relationship.

The press conference began at 3.30pm in Hong Kong Time, with Kim dressed in a black suit and bowing before expressing remorse.

"I am sorry for causing so much pain to many people", Kim began reading his statement with a shaken voice. "I also feel sad that the deceased seems unable to rest in peace."

"I am a coward"

The leading actor in "Queen of Tears" confessed to lying about his one-year relationship with the late actress when their selfie surfaced during the drama's airing.

"I am a coward," Kim revealed that he often prioritized his public image over personal honesty due to his fear of losing everything.

Despite wanting to reveal the truth to the public, he feared dragging others involved into a worse situation.

However, Kim reaffirmed that he would continue to make the same decision to avoid any possible bad influence on the production team and the staff, noting he would accept criticisms for being selfish and apologizing to those who loved him.

"I cannot admit to things I did not commit"

Kim further emphasized that he could not accept threats or violence, firmly clarifying they did not date when the late actress was a minor.

Kim described their bond as an ordinary one that eventually faded, as many relationships do.

"Aside from the fact that we are both actors, the deceased and I would have been an ordinary couple like others," Kim admitted. "We had a good feeling towards each other and after spending time together, we parted ways. Since then, I have rarely kept in touch with the deceased."

He also pointed out that he has been cautious about contacting the late actress since their separation, especially when she was in another relationship after her drunk driving accident.

Moreover, Kim addressed the false allegations suggested by the YouTube Channel Garosero Research, stressing he would not acknowledge things he did not do.

"But I could not accept being forced to acknowledge lies as facts while being threatened," he added.

"False rumours are spreading like wildfire"

Kim also mentioned the manipulated evidence presented by the Garosero Research and the family at the conference, including the wrong dates over their dating correspondence and the edited KakaoTalk screenshots.

In addition, Kim countered rumors that the late actress committed suicide due to pressure to repay the 700 million won settlement with a phone recording with the deceased's final agency CEO, who expressed a different attitude towards the second certificate of contents about the debt.

Kim Soo Hyun concluded his statement by expressing his determination to clear his name, noting he would prove his innocence with action.

Following Kim's statement, his lawyer confirmed legal actions against Kim Sae Ron's family and the host of Garosero Research.

International fans shows support for the actor

To showcase support for Kim Soo Hyun, his fans from Brazil sent support trucks near the press conference venue, featuring an electronic screen with the message, "Kim Soo Hyun dedicates his life to his art and fans."

The fans urged the public not to spread false information, emphasizing that the cyberbullying is harming his mental health and career, and stating Brazilian fans will always show their support.

In contrast to the fans' support, the Korean online community expressed confusion over the dedication of international fans.

Meanwhile, South Korean YouTuber Lee Jin Ho has been issued a court order prohibiting him from posting any content related to the late actress for the next three months after the family filed a lawsuit on March 27, according to reports.

Lee Jin Ho had previously created multiple videos concerning Kim Sae Ron and her family, including unverified personal information and contentious allegations.

According to reports, the late actress' family claimed the YouTuber not only fabricated the relationship between the two actors but also claimed she had self-harmed, married in the US, and was pregnant, with recordings.

The family emphasized that Kim Sae Ron suffered emotional distress due to Lee Jin Ho's videos, which ultimately led her to make extreme choices, therefore planning to pursue further legal action against him.

Additonal videos revealed

During the press conference, Kim Soo-hyun's company removed Garosero Research, prompting them to start a live broadcast at 6pm in retaliation. They disclosed that the relatives and their lawyer had initially hoped for a sincere apology from Kim Soo-hyun and had requested no further release of videos.

However, host Kim Se-ui expressed skepticism about Kim Soo-hyun's willingness to reflect on his actions. Unperturbed, he boldly stated, "Claiming 12 billion won? I’m not afraid. I’ve already told the family that we will fight until the last moment, so there's no need to worry," and urged Kim Soo-hyun to pursue a criminal lawsuit to prove his sincerity.

A video dated June 20, 2018, shows Kim Soo-hyun at a dinner table with a bottle of soju, about to eat spicy chicken soup. A voice, believed to be Kim Sae-ron's, is heard asking him how the soup tastes. Kim Soo-hyun, smiling, responds that he hasn't tried it yet but reacts positively after tasting it. This video, approximately 19 seconds long, has raised questions about his previous statements regarding his involvement with Kim Sae-ron during her high school years.

Kim Se-ui has openly criticized Kim Soo-hyun, highlighting a discrepancy in his statements about his relationship with the minor. He challenged Kim Soo-hyun to admit his mistakes, suggesting that doing so might mitigate his moral culpability. Another video from June 21, 2018, features Kim Soo-hyun singing a song from the OST of "The Moon Embracing the Sun," further suggesting he may have spent the night with Kim Sae-ron. 

Additional allegations include Kim Soo-hyun taking photos of Kim Sae-ron while she was asleep and a letter he allegedly wrote to her during his military service, contradicting his claims that their relationship began only after she was of legal age.

(Phoebe Poon and Yonhap)
(Updated at 6.07 pm)