Kim Soo Hyun's agency says actor dated Kim Sae Ron but didn't have underage relationship
Kim Soo Hyun's agency confirmed that the actor dated Kim Sae Ron for a year, but emphasized it didn't happen when she was just a minor.
In a statement shared by K-entertainment outlet Soompi, his management Gold Medalist revealed that the two started a relationship in 2019 after Sae Ron "became a legal adult." Their romance lasted until 2020.
"It is not true that Kim Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor," Gold Medalist said, noting that their couple photos circulating on social media showed their "private moments" together and were not taken during her minor years—as claimed by YouTube channel HoverLab.
"There has been much criticism directed at Kim Soo Hyun regarding their relationship," it continued. "While the relationship between two adults may be a private matter, it is natural for the life of Kim Soo Hyun, who is loved by many, to be subject to public evaluation, and if that evaluation is sharp criticism, it should be taken seriously and painfully."
Gold Medalist pointed out how "numerous false information and rumors" are making the rounds online "as if they are truths even at this moment."
"The extremely private lives of the two have been forcibly exposed by others, causing immense pain not only to Kim Soo Hyun but also to those around both individuals," it added.
His agency noted how Soo Hyun started showing signs of "severe psychological instability" since the rumors began. "We have taken measures to ensure that he can achieve absolute stability."
Claims about Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron's relationship
HoverLab Inc. on March 10 released a video alleging that the two Korean stars were in a "romantic relationship" for six years. It said their romance started when Sae Ron was just 15 years old and he was 28.
It also claimed that one of Sae Ron's relatives said the rumors were true through a phone interview.
The channel likewise accused Soo Hyun of "acting improperly in handling the aftermath of Sae Ron's DUI incident. (Sae Ron faced backlash in 2022 after she was caught driving under the influence and crashing her vehicle into multiple trees and guardrails in the Cheongdam neighborhood in Gangnam District. The accident left a transformer broken, cutting off electric supply for 57 nearby businesses.)
Gold Medalist denied the rumors a few days later. "These malicious claims directed at our company and actor Kim Soo Hyun are entirely false and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances," his agency said, adding that they are currently reviewing the "strongest possible legal action" against HoverLab Inc. for spreading fake news.
The management likewise shut down allegations that it pressured Soo Hyun to pay off Sae Ron's debts that piled up since her DUI incident.
Soo Hyun starred in various hit K-dramas including Queen of Tears (2024), Its Okay Not to Be Okay (2020), My Love from the Star (2013), The Moon Embracing the Sun (2012), Dream High (2011), and The Producers (2015), among others.
Sae Ron began her career at nine years old and became a notable child star by starring in the thriller-drama Korean film A Brand New Life. She also starred in the 2010 action-thriller film The Man From Nowhere. She passed away in February.
