The Disturbing Truth about KIM SOO HYUN and KIM SAE RON
The tragic death of South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron has ignited a storm of accusations, with her family and a popular YouTube channel, Garosero Research Institute, accusing actor Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, of neglecting and ultimately driving her to despair.
On March 10, Gold Medalist issued a vehement rebuttal to claims made by Garosero Research Institute in a recent broadcast, calling the allegations “blatant falsehoods.” The accusations include a six-year romantic relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron, which allegedly began when she was just 15 years old, as well as accusations of financial exploitation following a drunk-driving incident involving Kim Sae-ron in 2022. The family claims that Kim Sae-ron was unfairly treated and abandoned by her agency, and that Kim Soo-hyun, once her rumored partner, ignored her calls for help during a financial crisis.
Garosero Research Institute further aired a photo of Kim Soo-hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek and published what they claim were messages from Kim Sae-ron, in which she begged for more time to repay a ₩700 million debt incurred after her DUI incident. The messages revealed a heart-wrenching plea: “Please help me... I can’t pay it all at once. Can’t we avoid a lawsuit? Please, give me more time,” she implored.
Kim Sae-ron’s family alleges that she worked tirelessly for Gold Medalist, without proper compensation, to help establish the agency’s reputation. After her drunk driving incident, they claim, Gold Medalist severed ties with her and made unreasonable demands for repayment. The family has accused Kim Soo-hyun of being complicit, asserting that he ignored her cries for help, a claim that is supported by the alleged texts and the damaging photo.
The accusations paint a picture of a vulnerable young woman who, after being exploited and rejected by those she trusted most, felt betrayed and abandoned. In her final moments, she is said to have prepared a statement about her relationship with Kim Soo-hyun and her struggles with Gold Medalist, revealing that her six-year romance with Kim Soo-hyun began when she was 15 and ended in 2021.
Despite these claims, Gold Medalist has denied all allegations, calling them “fabrications” and warning of the possibility of legal action. They state that Kim Sae-ron’s family is spreading these falsehoods to tarnish the agency’s reputation, and have promised to take “the strongest possible legal steps.”
The tragic story of Kim Sae-ron’s life and death raises difficult questions about the responsibilities of agencies, industry professionals, and the treatment of young actors in South Korea’s entertainment industry. The controversy surrounding her passing underscores the harsh realities faced by those in the public eye and calls into question the lengths to which people in positions of power will go to protect their own interests, even at the expense of others’ lives.
