Kim Soo-hyun "I dated the late Kim Sae-ron for a year after she became an adult, never demanded repayment"

Agency Issues Official Statement on the 14th

Actor Kim Soo-hyun. Provided by Gold Medalist

Actor Kim Soo-hyun (37) has spoken out regarding rumors about dating the late Kim Sae-ron (25) during their minor years and allegations of pressure related to penalty fee debts.

Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, stated in a press release on the 14th, "The two dated from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after both had become adults," and clarified, "It is not true that he dated Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor."

The agency claimed that the photos released by the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute on the 11th were taken in the winter of 2020, after Kim Sae-ron had become an adult. They explained that another photo released by the channel the following day was taken on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2019. They added, "The photos that Garosero Research Institute repeatedly claims were taken in 2016 do not exist," and denied, "The two were not dating at that time."

On the 10th, Garosero Research Institute cited a conversation with Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family, claiming that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron for six years starting when she was 15 in 2015, and released letters Kim Soo-hyun allegedly sent to Kim Sae-ron during his military service.

The agency responded, "One of the letters was written to a close acquaintance during his military service, and the expression 'I miss you' was used lightly among close acquaintances during military life." They further argued, "By placing postcards sent after dating alongside letters sent during military service, ordinary letters were made to appear like love letters."

They also denied allegations that Kim Soo-hyun repaid 700 million won of Kim Sae-ron's penalty fees from a drunk driving traffic accident and pressured repayment by sending a certified letter after Kim Sae-ron's contract with the agency expired.

The agency stated, "The debt between Kim Sae-ron and the company was a matter between the company and the individual. The company repaid the debt on her behalf and, judging that Kim Sae-ron was unable to bear the debt, processed it as a loss provision (bad debt allowance) in December 2023," and added, "There was no fact of urging repayment."

Previously, the agency had said on the 13th, "We will announce our position next week," but released an official statement on the 14th. The agency explained, "Kim Soo-hyun has been showing rapidly unstable behavior," and due to confusion caused by claims that he was responsible for the late actress's death, they issued the statement within a day.