South Korean Actor Kim Soo-hyun Denies Underage Dating Allegations

Forbes

01-04-2025

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 31: South Korean actor Kim Soo-Hyun breaks down and cries during his ... More press conference at Stanford Hotel on March 31, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage)
South Korean A-list actor Kim Soo-hyun has been embroiled in controversy over his past relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron, who died in an apparent suicide in February.
The allegations made against Kim Soo-hyun by Kim Sae-ron's family include the actor dating the actress in 2015 when she was 15 - a minor - and that his agency, GoldMedalist, pressured her to repay a loan owed to the company.
In an official press conference on Monday in Seoul, South Korea, Kim Soo-hyun and his legal representatives from LKB & Partners denied the allegations against him. While the actor admitted to a romantic relationship with the actress, he said she was not a minor when they began dating, which started in 2019, when she was 19, the legal age of adulthood in South Korea.
I accept responsibility for what I have done and will take any criticism for it,' said the 37-year-old actor, according to The Korea Times. 'But I cannot take responsibility for something I did not do. For the people who still believe in me, I want to set the record straight.'
The scandal first broke out on March 10th, less than a month after her passing. HoverLab, a YouTube channel known for its controversial political content, stated that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron dated for six years – starting when she was 15. The channel has since released photos, videos, and letters, claiming to have been made during the relationship. Last week, an attorney representing Kim Sae-ron's family released alleged KakaoTalk messages between the two actors from 2016, when she was 16.
Kim Soo-hyun called the allegations presented by Kim Sae-ron's family 'fabricated' and 'false testimony,' providing his own evidence during the press conference.
'Whenever my agency and I respond to the evidence presented by the bereaved family, newly recorded testimonies suddenly emerge. The so-called evidence consists of photos and videos with altered timelines, as well as edited KakaoTalk images instead of the originals,' he said. 'If their evidence is truly genuine, I urge them to submit all materials to the authorities and have them verified through legal procedures.'
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 31: South Korean actor Kim Soo-Hyun breaks down and cries during his ... More press conference at Stanford Hotel on March 31, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage)
Kim Soo-hyun became emotional throughout the conference, apologizing to his fans and staff for the scandal that had shaken the South Korean entertainment industry.
"It seems many people are suffering because of me," he said tearfully. "And I feel like the deceased [Kim Sae-ron] is unable to rest in peace, which makes me feel terrible.'
Goldmedalist initially denied the dating rumors but later released a statement that the two did indeed date between mid-2019 to late-2020 when she was an adult.
Kim Soo-hyun defended his agency's initial denial of the relationship when Kim Sae-ron first posted – and later deleted – a photo of them together on her Instagram account during the broadcast of Netflix's Queen of Tears last year.
'Even when Queen of Tears was airing, I had a lot to keep safe as the male lead,' he explained. 'I wondered what might happen if I admitted to having been in a relationship with the deceased years ago. What will happen to the cast? The staff working hard day and night? The production company who invested everything?'
In South Korea's entertainment industry, romantic relationships are seen as scandalous, which could result in losing fans, popularity, and potential jobs.
Kim Sae-ron rose to fame as the lead in South Korea's highest-grossing film of 2010, The Man from Nowhere. She continued to act until she was involved in a drunk-driving incident in 2022, which resulted in her being fined 20 million won (~$14,000 USD). Due to the accident, she received public and online backlash and was ordered to pay close to 700 million won (~$475,000 USD) in compensation, leaving her in significant debt.
Kim Sae-ron's family claimed that GoldMedalist, who had represented the actress from 2020 until 2022, had covered her compensation, but had allegedly called for legal action for repayment. Kim Soo-hyun denied the claims, playing an audio recording between his agency's CEO and Kim Sae-ron's representatives, which noted the second legal notice she had received was for 'procedural reasons.'
'It is not true that the deceased [Kim Sae-ron] made a tragic choice because of me turning a blind eye or because my agency pressured her over a debt,' he said.
Best known for his roles in the popular South Korean drama series My Love from the Star (2013-2014), It's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020), and Queen of Tears (2024), Kim Soo-hyun quickly became one of South Korea's most acclaimed and highest-paid actors. The recent controversy has significantly impacted his career with many brands distancing themselves from the actor, including Prada and Dinto Cosmetics. His next project, Disney+'s Knock-Off, has announced it has been postponed.
His legal team has filed criminal complaints against Kim Sae-ron's family and the YouTube channel HoverLab for defamation and violating South Korea's Personal Information Protection Act. They have also filed a civil lawsuit for damages worth 12 billion won (approximately $8.1 million USD), which a Seoul court has accepted.
The press conference lasted about 40 minutes, with Kim Soo-hyun leaving without answering any questions from reporters. Kim Sae-ron's family and HoverLab have not commented on the lawsuits or the latest statements made by Kim Soo-hyun.