The late actress Kim Sae-ron, who tragically passed away on February 16 at the age of 24, has once again become the center of public discussion. On March 10, the Korean YouTube channel "Horizontal Research Institute" went live, revealing that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were once in a romantic relationship. The broadcast also showcased a series of intimate photos and handwritten letters, claiming that the two had been together for six years—starting when Kim Sae-ron was only 15 years old.
Adding fuel to the controversy, the channel alleged that Kim Soo-hyun pressured Kim Sae-ron to repay a 700 million KRW (approx. 530,000 USD) debt, even sending a certified legal notice, which they claim pushed Kim Sae-ron to a breaking point. The shocking revelations caused Kim Soo-hyun’s reputation to plummet overnight, with more than 200,000 fans unfollowing him, and several brands quickly distancing themselves from the actor.
On March 14, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, finally responded with an official statement, confirming that the two were in a relationship but denying any wrongdoing.
After a night of intense public debate, Gold Medalist issued another statement on March 18, addressing the ongoing accusations:
"Kim Sae-ron’s family has continuously spread false claims through press conferences and news reports. Our company attended her funeral to pay respects, and we urge everyone to stop using unrelated photos and posts to damage Kim Soo-hyun’s reputation."
The agency also clarified key points:
The notice did not prohibit Kim Sae-ron from contacting anyone under the agency but only advised her not to discuss debt-related matters with third parties.
They never demanded compensation from Kim Sae-ron for any reason. The second legal notice was merely a standard legal procedure.
Amid the controversy, online rumors began spreading that Gold Medalist had deliberately smeared actress Seo Ye-ji’s reputation in the past. Addressing this, the agency firmly denied the claims:
"The allegations about Seo Ye-ji are completely untrue. Even her former manager, who has since left the company, finds these rumors absurd. We urge people to stop spreading baseless accusations."
On March 17, Kim Sae-ron’s family hired a lawyer and teamed up with Kwon Young-chan, the head of the Korean Artists’ Suicide Prevention Association, and Kim Se-ui, the host of "Horizontal Research Institute," to file legal charges against Lee Jin-ho. They also demanded further explanation from Kim Soo-hyun.
According to the family, while sorting through Kim Sae-ron’s belongings, they discovered new evidence related to the case.
Additionally, "Horizontal Research Institute" revealed the contents of Gold Medalist’s second legal notice:
The next day, March 25, Gold Medalist sent a second notice, demanding she repay the 700 million KRW debt within a set deadline and prohibiting her from sharing any further intimate photos. They warned that failing to comply would result in legal action.
The first notice was sent on March 15.
On March 24, Kim Sae-ron posted an intimate selfie of her and Kim Soo-hyun on Instagram Stories, hoping he would respond.
Kim Sae-ron’s legal team expressed their frustration, stating:
"We intend to file a manslaughter lawsuit against Lee Jin-ho. After Kim Sae-ron uploaded her photo with Kim Soo-hyun, she suffered immense emotional distress from the legal notices. Lee Jin-ho dismissed her actions as ‘attention-seeking,’ leaving the family with no choice but to take legal action.
Furthermore, to disprove false claims made by YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, we have decided to disclose Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron’s relationship details.
At this moment, we are seriously considering legal action against Kim Soo-hyun’s side as well."