Kim Sae Ron’s Aunt Alleges Actor Kim Soo Hyun Dated The Late Actress Since She Was 15, Blames Him For Her Death In A Damning Exposé
GOLD MEDALIST has since responded to the accusations made.
This article includes descriptions of suicide or self harm that may disturb some readers.
Late actress Kim Sae Ron‘s aunt has taken to former media reporter Kim Se Ui (Kim Say)’s controversial YouTube channel, Garosero Research Institute, to expose actor Kim Soo Hyun and ultimately blamed the actress’s suicide death on his actions.
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According to a phone conversation between the aunt and Kim Se Ui, Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun started dating in 2015, when Kim Sae Ron was 15 and Kim Soo Hyun was 27. Their relationship lasted for six years until 2021.
In 2019, when Kim Soo Hyun founded his own management company, GOLD MEDALIST, Kim Sae Ron decided to join him and did not renew her contract with YG Entertainment, her former management.
The aunt claimed that, because Kim Sae Ron was dating Kim Soo Hyun, she helped Kim Soo Hyun establish the management company by providing free labor, such as directing new talent and giving acting lessons.
According to the aunt, the two broke up in 2022, when Kim Sae Ron’s drunk driving accident made the news. At this point, Kim Soo Hyun and GOLD MEDALIST offered to take care of the situation when Kim Sae Ron initially said she would handle it on her own. So, Kim Sae Ron did let the management company step in.
GOLD MEDALIST then paid ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD) in damages. The aunt insisted that the management company did not ask Kim Sae Ron to pay the money back. The aunt shared that, during a car ride with her, Kim Sae Ron expressed gratitude toward Kim Soo Hyun for helping her out financially. The aunt added that she also commented on “what a good guy” Kim Soo Hyun was. According to the aunt, Kim Sae Ron “said she would still like to work hard so she could pay him back eventually.”
Then, Kim Sae Ron’s contract with GOLD MEDALIST came to an end.
It was in 2024 when the actress was served a notice to pay back the ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD). Caught by surprise, Kim Sae Ron tried getting in touch with Kim Soo Hyun—but he wouldn’t answer her calls, said the aunt. Even when Kim Sae Ron tried calling from her cousin’s phone number, Kim Soo Hyun was unreachable.
The aunt alleged that, a short while after this, Korean news reporters began calling the cousin, asking for Kim Sae Ron. The late actress “felt betrayed,” said the aunt, knowing that Kim Soo Hyun had provided the reporters with the phone number.
The aunt alleged that, at this point in time—when Kim Soo Hyun’s K-Drama Queen of Tears was airing, the late actress opted to post the picture of her and Kim Soo Hyun on Instagram, hoping to spark a reaction from him and have him call her back.
Instead, Kim Soo Hyun and GOLD MEDALIST issued an official statement that “painted Kim Sae Ron in a negative way” and continued to ignore Kim Sae Ron’s attempts to get in touch.
The aunt claimed, “Not being able to pay back the ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD), Kim Sae Ron was struggling financially” and died by suicide on Kim Soo Hyun’s birthday.
She added that the bereaved family has plenty of proof (pictures) of the late actress’s six-year relationship with the actor that, via Garosero Research Institute, they will share with the world.
Kim Soo Hyun and GOLD MEDALIST swiftly denied all accusations made in the YouTube video and noted that legal action will be taken for not only defaming Kim Soo Hyun, but also disrespecting the late actress with blatant lies.
Hello, this is GOLD MEDALIST.
We would like to issue an official statement regarding the YouTube broadcast by Garosero Research Institute concerning actor Kim Soo Hyun.
All claims made by Garosero Research Institute regarding Kim Soo Hyun through their YouTube broadcast are false. They alleged that the company and Kim Soo Hyun, alongside YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, harassed the late actress Kim Sae Ron. Additionally, they claimed that Kim Soo Hyun had been in a romantic relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron since she was 15, that the company mishandled the situation following her DUI incident, and even that one of our managers was personally acquainted with YouTuber Lee Jin Ho. These malicious accusations against the company and Kim Soo Hyun are completely untrue and unacceptable. We are currently looking into pursuing the strongest possible legal action against Garosero Research Institute for spreading false information.
GOLD MEDALIST is deeply saddened by the passing of the late Kim Sae Ron, who was once part of the agency, and we mourn her loss. However, the dissemination of such false information by Garosero Research Institute mirrors the very ‘cyber wrecking’ that the late Kim Sae Ron suffered from during her lifetime. These actions are solely for personal gain of the YouTuber, defaming both the company and the deceased. We will respond to these allegations with zero tolerance.
We earnestly request that these baseless falsehoods are not further spread, amplified, or reproduced.
— GOLD MEDALIST
That all said, Kim Sae Ron’s father blamed the actress’s death on Lee Jin Ho, another former media reporter turned controversial YouTuber (who runs a channel similar to Kim Se Ui’s) for his involvement in her passing.
