A photo of Kim Soo-hyun (left) and Kim Sae-ron released by far-right YouTube channel HoverLab. Photo: Screenshot from HoverLab's YouTube channel
The agency of Kim Soo-hyun, the actor behind numerous hit K-dramas such as Queen Of Tears and It's Okay To Not Be Okay, announced that it will issue an official statement regarding allegations that he had been in a relationship with late actor Kim Sae-ron since she was 15.
Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, stated on Thusrday, "To clarify the facts and address baseless rumors, we will present our stance next week, supported by clear evidence."
The agency did not disclose specifics about the method or the timing of the statement.
The statement comes in the wake of claims from a YouTube channel that Kim Soo-hyun had been dating Kim Sae-ron for six years, starting in 2015.
Kim Sae-ron, born in 2000, was 15 years old when she allegedly began dating Kim Soo-hyun in 2015. At that time, Kim Soo-hyun, 12 years her senior, was 27. The report cited Kim Sae-ron’s family as its source.
On Monday, Gold Medalist strongly rejected the dating claims made by the YouTube channel HoverLab. HoverLab is a far-right outlet with a track record of having spread malicious and baseless rumours.
The claims, first made on Monday, were accompanied by the release of a photo on Tuesday showing Kim Soo-hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek, as well as text messages that Kim Sae-ron supposedly sent Kim Soo-hyun, asking him to drop his lawsuit over the 700mil won she owed him.
These reports were followed by the release of letters on Wednesday, which are believed to have been sent by Kim Soo-hyun to Kim Sae-ron in 2018 and 2019.
The letters reportedly include affectionate nicknames, with Kim Soo-hyun allegedly referring to Kim Sae-ron as “Saero-naero” and expressing affection toward her.
As the allegations surface, public sentiment toward Kim Soo-hyun has been souring in Korea. Scrutiny has intensified over the fact that Kim Sae-ron, who was found dead in her home in Feb 16, died on Kim Soo-hyun's birthday.
In response to the public discontent, several retailers are debating whether to distance themselves from Kim Soo-hyun.
Homeplus, a South Korean retail chain where Kim Soo-hyun has been a model, stated that it is reviewing continuing his modeling contract.
Tous Les Jours, a bakery chain operated by CJ Foodville, said the actor's modeling contract will terminate this month, but added that the termination of Kim Soo-hyun's modeling contract with the brand is not the result of growing allegations related to Kim Sae-ron.
LG Household & Health Care has set advertisement videos featuring Kim Soo-hyun to private on its YouTube channel. Kim was the model for the company’s "Beyond" beauty brand from 2012 to 2015.
Meanwhile, audiences of the shows the actor is currently appearing on are demanding his removal.
On the viewer board for the MBC variety show Good Day, which features Kim Soo-hyun, posts are calling for his departure.
Some viewers have written comments such as, "Please make him leave," "I demand his departure" and "I even joined just to ask for his departure." On the other hand, some viewers are defending him, commenting, "I oppose his departure," and "Let's stop this."
Good Day is an MBC variety show where K-pop star G-Dragon collaborates with various figures to complete "Song of the Year." MBC said it is currently reviewing the case regarding requests to have the actor removed from the show.
Meanwhile, Disney+ is also anticipating the release of Knock Off, a series starring Kim Soo-hyun as the lead, in the first half of 2025. However, amid the growing controversies, Disney+ has stated that no decisions have been made yet regarding the release of the series and the production of its second season.
Seo Ye-ji, who was rumoured to have dated Kim Soo-hyun in 2020, revealed that she is struggling with malicious comments.
On Thursday, Seo Ye-ji posted on her fan cafe, "I am human, so I feel overwhelmed, exhausted, tired, sad and suffocated. I keep enduring, over and over."
She shared a screenshot of a comment on the post. The comment in the photo accuses Seo of allegedly "cheating," if Kim indeed had been dating Kim Sae-ron for six years.
Seo stated, "I wish this would stop now," adding that "I have no relationship with him (Kim Soo-hyun) or his cousin." She then said, "I don't even know why I need to clarify this, but today, I'm feeling really frustrated." – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
