Everything we know so far about Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron’s explosive scandal

Updated 15th October 2025

South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun, best known for his roles in It’s Okay To Not Be Okay and Queen of Tears, is facing the most serious scandal of his career following explosive allegations linking him to the late actress Kim Sae-ron. What began as online speculation has since escalated into a full-blown controversy threatening his career and reputation – and now, major brands are severing ties, deepening the fallout.

The storm erupted when YouTube channel Hoverlab – also known as Garo Sero Institute – alleged that Kim Soo-hyun, 37, was in a secret romantic relationship with Kim Sae-ron for six years, starting when she was only 15. The YouTube expose, which has since garnered nearly four million views, included photos purportedly showing Kim Soo-hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek – adding a visual bombshell to the claims. According to The Korea Times, Kim Sae-ron’s family has since come forward, providing the channel with what they claim are text messages, handwritten letters, and previously unseen photographs supporting their assertions.

One of the most shocking revelations was a message reportedly sent by Kim Sae-ron to Kim Soo-hyun in March 2023, in which she pleaded for time to repay a debt of 700 million won (approximately S$700,000). The Korea Times quoted her as writing, “It’s not that I won’t pay, but I just can’t manage 700 million won all at once. Please give me time. I’m begging you.”

According to Hoverlab, this debt was linked to a substantial settlement following Kim Sae-ron’s DUI accident in 2022 – an incident that derailed her once-promising career. Allegedly, the money was borrowed from Gold Medalist, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, which was co-founded by his cousin.

Additionally, the news outlet reported that the family released a photo of Kim Soo-hyun appearing to kiss Kim Sae-ron on the cheek – a photo they claim was taken when she was a minor. In a letter allegedly written on 24 March 2023, Kim Sae-ron detailed the purported relationship, claiming it spanned from November 2015 to July 2021, and accused his agency, Gold Medalist, of exploiting her work without proper compensation, before cutting ties and demanding repayment.

According to Malay Mail, further allegations surfaced on YouTube, suggesting that Kim Soo-hyun had colluded with others to bully Kim Sae-ron, and had later severed contact while insisting on full repayment of the alleged loan. These claims have sparked widespread outrage.

In response, Gold Medalist has strongly denied all allegations, calling them “blatantly false” and vowing to pursue the “strongest possible legal action” against those spreading such claims. The agency also condemned the release of the so-called evidence, warning of legal steps to come.

However, as public pressure mounted – and with Kim Soo-hyun spotted attending G-Dragon’s listening party just days after Kim Sae-ron’s tragic death – the agency later issued a bombshell follow-up statement. In it, Gold Medalist admitted that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were indeed in a “consensual relationship” from the summer of 2019 to autumn 2020, clarifying that it began after she became a legal adult. The agency added that Kim is now suffering from “severe psychological distress” over the scandal, even alleging that paparazzi and “people with cameras” are loitering outside his home.

The scandal took a devastating turn when Kim Sae-ron, aged only 24, was found dead in her home last month. Police have ruled her death a suicide.

In the days following the revelations, Kim Soo-hyun’s career has begun to unravel. According to Soompi, luxury fashion house Prada, which had appointed him as a brand ambassador in January and hosted him at their Autumn 2025 menswear show in Milan, swiftly announced they were cutting ties. “It has been mutually decided to end the collaboration between Prada and Kim Soo-hyun,” the brand said in a brief statement.

And Prada isn’t the only one distancing itself. Other brands, including bakery chain Tous Les Jours, supermarket giant Homeplus, and sportswear label K2 Korea, have quietly pulled his advertisements and campaigns from official channels – making it clear that the scandal has sent shockwaves through both the entertainment and corporate worlds.

Public reaction has been swift and divided. While some urge caution, others have flooded Kim Soo-hyun’s social media with demands for accountability, including calls for his removal from projects such as Disney+’s Knock-Off and MBC’s Good Day. Fans and critics alike are questioning whether his golden-boy image can survive the fallout of what is now being dubbed one of South Korea’s most salacious celebrity scandals.

On March 31, 2025, Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference at a hotel in Seoul, where he emphatically denied dating Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor and refuted any involvement in her death. Entering the room with a stiff walk and a tense expression, the actor said, “I think of myself as a coward. I always seemed to be too focused on protecting what I had. I couldn’t even trust the goodwill directed towards me. Always afraid of losing something or being hurt, it took me a long time to stand here.”

According to The Straits Times, Kim Soo-hyun admitted to dating Kim Sae-ron in 2019, when she was of legal age, for about a year. Addressing why he had denied their relationship in March 2024, he explained that his ongoing role in Queen Of Tears made him fearful of how the revelation would impact the show and everyone involved. “Every time I faced a conflict between being Kim Soo-hyun the person and Kim Soo-hyun the star, I always ended up making choices as Kim Soo-hyun the star.”

The actor also insisted that Kim Sae-ron’s death was not caused by his rejection or any financial pressure from his agency. “I am being pressured to confess to things I never did. They say, ‘You manipulated the deceased since she was a minor,’ ‘You pressured her with money and drove her to her death,’ ‘So, you are a murderer,’” Kim Soo-hyun said through sobs.

According to a Soompi article, he dismissed the KakaoTalk messages presented by Kim Sae-ron’s family as evidence, claiming they were fabricated. His legal representative, Mr. Kim Jong-bok of LKB & Partners, announced that Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, have filed a defamation lawsuit against Kim Sae-ron’s family, a woman claiming to be her aunt, and the operator of HoverLab. They are seeking approximately 12 billion won (S$10.9 million) in damages.

Koreaboo reported that a truck displaying messages of support from Kim’s fans in Brazil was parked outside the press conference, bearing phrases such as, “Cyberbullying has already taken too many victims. How many more?” and “Words have power.”

Fresh doubts surface as Kim Soo-hyun’s team reconstructs the past

While Kim Soo-hyun’s tearful press conference marked a pivotal turning point in the scandal, further developments have continued to surface, raising new questions about the timeline and authenticity of key evidence.

On October 14, Mothership’s Instagram post reported that fresh doubts had emerged over some of the messages released by Kim Sae-ron’s family, particularly one allegedly sent by Kim Soo-hyun in April 2018. In the message, he was said to have told Sae-ron, “After I go to the hospital, have dinner, and work out later today, I’ll be free around 9 pm.”

The post cited by Money Today, saying that the actor was participating in field operations training for his military service during that exact period, from 2 April 2018 to 5 April 2018. Attempts to reach the head of Garo Sero Institute and the family’s legal representative for comment reportedly went unanswered.

A Koreaboo report revealed Kim Soo-hyun’s June 2016 filming schedule for the movie Real. According to the article, he had over 18 days of continuous filming that month – an intensive schedule that overlapped with the time Sae-ron’s family claimed she was exchanging affectionate texts with an unnamed man. The messages, which included lines such as “Give me a kiss later” and “When can I hold you and fall asleep?”, were presented as evidence of a relationship. However, Soo-hyun’s legal team refuted the connection, stating there was no confirmation the actor was the sender.

Together, these updates have added a new layer of complexity to an already emotionally charged scandal. What began as a tabloid firestorm fuelled by social media speculation has now evolved into a dispute over timelines, digital evidence, and the limits of public judgment, pitting grief-stricken allegations against a defence rooted in documented schedules and alibis.

As both sides dig in, one thing remains clear: the truth behind this story is still unfolding, and the consequences – for careers and reputations – may reverberate long after the headlines fade.