South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Goldmedalist, released a press statement on 14 Mar 2025 refuting allegations made by YouTube channel Hoverlab about his relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron.
Kim Sae-ron, 24, who gained fame as a child star in the thriller film The Man From Nowhere (2010), was found dead at her home in Seoul on 16 Feb 2025.
Dating Timeline Dispute Following YouTube Channel Allegations
In a video uploaded on 10 Mar, Hoverlab claimed that Kim Soo-hyun, 37, and Kim Sae-ron had dated for six years, starting in 2015 when she was 15 and he was 27.
Goldmedalist, an agency established by Kim Soo-hyun and his cousin in 2019, strongly denied these allegations. According to their statement, the actors dated from summer 2019, after she became an adult, to autumn 2020.
Kim Sae-ron was born in July 2000, while Kim Soo-hyun was born in February 1988.
Photographic Evidence and Date Discrepancies
The agency stated that all photos presented by Hoverlab as evidence of an underage relationship were taken when Kim Sae-ron was legally an adult. They specifically pointed out that a T-shirt worn by the late actor in one of the photos was released by the brand in 2019, “which proves that the photo could not have been taken in 2016 as Hoverlab falsely claimed”.
Goldmedalist also mentioned they possess metadata of the photographs confirming when they were taken, reported Korea JoongAng Daily.
Military Service Letter Explained
The agency addressed a letter released by Hoverlab, allegedly sent to Kim Sae-ron from Kim Soo-hyun during his mandatory military service.
In the letter, dated 2018, Kim Soo-hyun reportedly called Kim Sae-ron by the affectionate nickname “Saero-naero” and expressed that he missed her.
The agency emphasised that this was among letters Kim Soo-hyun sent to close acquaintances during his military service and not one sent to a lover.
Financial Allegations and Agency’s Early Response to Mounting Pressure
Goldmedalist also denied claims that Kim Soo-hyun and the agency pressured Kim Sae-ron to repay a debt of 700 million won (S$643,000) by sending her a certified notice demanding repayment.
On 11 March 2025, Hoverlab released a screenshot of a message Kim Sae-ron sent to Kim Soo-hyun, in which she pleaded for more time to repay a debt. This fuelled speculation that financial pressure contributed to her death.
The agency clarified that it covered her outstanding debts related to her 2022 drink-driving accident, which reportedly totalled 1.14 billion won (S$860,000). They worked to reduce her financial burden to 700 million won and ultimately wrote off her remaining debt in December 2023.
Goldmedalist stated that the certified notice was not an attempt to pressure her, but a necessary step to comply with legal and accounting regulations.
“If the company were to voluntarily cover the penalty fees (for Kim Sae-ron), there was a risk that the executives who made the decision could be charged with breach of trust, and the expenses might not be recognised as deductible business costs,” the statement read.
Kim Soo-hyun’s Non-involvement in Financial Matters
The agency emphasised that Kim Soo-hyun was never personally involved in any financial matters with Kim Sae-ron.
“The statements that Kim Soo-hyun personally lent Kim Sae-ron money, or tried to get it back suddenly, are unfounded,” it said. “Kim Soo-hyun never lent money to Kim Sae-ron, never demanded repayment and was not in a position to do so.”
Though Goldmedalist had initially announced it would address the claims the following week, it decided to release its official stance early due to concerns over Kim Soo-hyun’s psychological distress caused by the allegations.
The statement detailed incidents of surveillance: “On Wednesday night after Hoverlab’s broadcast ended, a car with people holding cameras stood parked across from the company’s main entrance and in the carpark until dawn. By Thursday lunchtime, people with cameras were seen circling the building, increasing the psychological pressure on Kim Soo-hyun.”
Kim Sae-ron was previously also managed by Goldmedalist and left the agency in 2022 following her drink-driving accident in May of that year.
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