The family of the late Kim Sae Ron has renewed allegations that she was romantically involved with actor Kim Soo Hyun while she was a minor. On Wednesday, the family released a detailed official statement, including portions of materials they say support their claims. Some of these documents were made public for the first time.
In the statement, the family said, “This matter is currently under investigation by the authorities. We are releasing a portion of the evidence in our possession to demonstrate that Kim Sae Ron was in a relationship with Kim Soo Hyun during her underage years.” The materials shared include forensic extractions from electronic devices previously used by Kim Sae Ron, such as digital memos.
Among the disclosed items were personal notes dated September 28, 2017, containing lines such as, “Oppa, it’s not just because you’re going to the military,” and, “It’s hard for us, isn’t it? We have so much to get through. To the public, the first thing they see is me.”
The family also shared a handwritten letter they say Kim Sae Ron wrote shortly after leaving her former agency, Goldmedalist, following a legal notice regarding contractual penalty fees. The letter reportedly reads, “We were together for roughly five to six years,” and, “I’m sorry for posting the photo,” referencing a past social media post.
As of now, Kim Soo Hyun has not issued any new public comment beyond previous denials.
Earlier this year, Kim Soo Hyun was thrust back into the spotlight following allegations of dating Kim Sae Ron while she was underage. Initially denying the claims, he later clarified that the relationship began after she had reached adulthood, a statement some interpreted as a partial acknowledgment that they had dated.
Despite this, the controversy persisted. In March, Kim Soo Hyun held a press conference asserting that messages released by Kim Sae Ron’s family were fabricated or manipulated, and indicated that he would pursue legal action.
Kim Soo Hyun has since filed lawsuits against the family and others involved in the dispute, including Kim Se Eui (Sey Kim), CEO of the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute. The legal claims reportedly include defamation, violations of South Korea’s Network Act concerning distribution of private communications, and a demand for 12 billion KRW (roughly 9 million USD) in damages.
Amid the legal proceedings, the release of his Disney+ series Knock-Off has been temporarily postponed, according to local reports. Additionally, a cosmetics brand that previously featured Kim Soo Hyun in advertising has filed a civil suit seeking 2.8 billion KRW (about 2.1 million USD) in damages. A second company is pursuing a similar civil claim.
Kim Soo Hyun’s attorney, Ko Sang Rok of PHIL Law Firm, recently issued a public warning stating that distribution of unauthorized personal materials would result in strict legal action.
Ko Sang Rok also presented documents contradicting claims that the relationship began while Kim Sae Ron was in middle school. In a statement, Ko Sang Rok said: “By publicly confirming that the actor had no connection to the circumstances surrounding the deceased’s passing, the family has dismantled the foundational premise supporting ongoing rumors. The core assumptions behind the spread of false claims have effectively collapsed.”
Ko Sang Rok emphasized that Kim Soo Hyun will continue to contest the allegations in court and will not tolerate circulation of unverified or false personal information.
With both sides maintaining sharply opposing narratives, observers note that the case has evolved beyond celebrity gossip into a high-stakes legal dispute affecting intellectual property, sponsorship contracts, and international public perception.
