The South Korean entertainment industry has been abuzz with allegations surrounding the late actress Kim Sae-ron and actor Kim Soo-hyun. Claims have surfaced suggesting a secret six-year relationship between the two, beginning when Kim Sae-ron was a minor, leading to financial entanglements and legal threats.

Allegations of a Secret Relationship

On October 10, 2024, Kim Sae-ron’s aunt appeared on the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, alleging that Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun began dating in 2014, when she was in her second year of middle school. The relationship purportedly lasted six years, during which Kim Sae-ron transitioned to Gold Medalist, an agency co-founded by Kim Soo-hyun and his cousin, Lee Ro Be, in 2020.

Financial Disputes and Legal Threats

Following a drunk driving incident in May 2022, Kim Sae-ron faced a damage claim of approximately 20 billion KRW ($13.7 million). Her aunt claimed that to address this, Kim Sae-ron borrowed 700 million KRW ($480,000) from Kim Soo-hyun. However, as her career stalled, she struggled to repay the debt and allegedly received a repayment notice from both Kim Soo-hyun and Gold Medalist.

In materials obtained by Garosero Research Institute from Kim Sae-ron’s family, she purportedly wrote on March 24, 2024, acknowledging the relationship and expressing concerns about her treatment by Gold Medalist. She claimed she undertook tasks like rookie casting and visual directing without fair compensation and faced threats regarding her contract renewal.

Agency’s Denial and Legal Action

Gold Medalist responded to these allegations by stating that the claims made by Garosero Research Institute are “completely unfounded” and announced plans for legal action against the spread of false information. The agency expressed sorrow over Kim Sae-ron’s passing but condemned the dissemination of what they termed malicious claims.

Public Speculation and Media Scrutiny

The controversy intensified when Kim Sae-ron posted and quickly deleted a photo with Kim Soo-hyun on social media in March 2024, sparking dating rumors. Gold Medalist dismissed these rumors as “groundless,” asserting that the photo was taken when both actors were under the same management. The agency expressed confusion over Kim Sae-ron’s motives for posting the photo and warned against baseless speculation.

These events, coupled with relentless media scrutiny and online harassment, reportedly took a toll on Kim Sae-ron’s mental health. Her tragic death in February 2025, the day Kim Soo hyung celebrated his birthday, has sparked discussions about the pressures faced by South Korean celebrities and the need for better support systems within the industry.