A newly released photo of Kim Sae-ron, left, and Kim Soo-hyun, and a message the late actress reportedly sent him, made public by her family via Hoverlab. Courtesy of Hoverlab

Fresh controversy has erupted surrounding actor Kim Soo-hyun following new disclosures from the late actress Kim Sae-ron's family, who claim the two had a six-year romantic relationship that began when she was still a minor, Newsis and other outlets reported Wednesday.

YouTube channel Hoverlab, better known as Garo Sero Institute, released additional materials provided by Kim Sae-ron's family, including a text message sent by the actress and a previously unseen photo of the two. The message, dated March 19, 2024, was said to reflect financial distress and a strained relationship between the two.

In the text, Kim Sae-ron wrote, "Oppa (Korean term for an older male), it's Sae-ron. I received the content-certified letter. You're suing me ... I've been preparing for my return to acting, and I plan to repay you gradually from each project. It's not that I won't pay, but I just can't manage 700 million won ($525,000) all at once. Please give me time. I'm begging you, please help me."

According to the family, Kim Soo-hyun never responded, despite multiple attempts by Kim Sae-ron to reach him. Just five days later, on March 24, 2024, Kim Sae-ron posted, and then deleted, a photo of herself with Kim Soo-hyun on Instagram, with their cheeks touching.

At the time, his agency Gold Medalist denied the dating rumors, saying, "We have no idea what her intentions were."

Hoverlab also revealed a new photo of Kim Soo-hyun appearing to kiss Kim Sae-ron on the cheek, allegedly posted on the same day as the deleted Instagram post. The family claimed that she was only 15 at the time the photo was taken, when she was in her third year of middle school.

They also disclosed a letter she had written on March 24, 2023, in which she detailed the alleged relationship and disputes with Gold Medalist. In the note, she said: "Though the media reported that the dating rumors were groundless, I want to make it clear that's not true. The photo I uploaded was from 2016. Our relationship lasted from Nov. 19, 2015, to July 7, 2021. I was 16, and he was 30."

She further claimed she had initially discussed signing a contract with Kim Soo-hyun's company but eventually joined Gold Medalist without proper compensation for work she did, including rookie casting and visual directing.

She also alleged that the agency later sent her a threatening content-certified letter demanding debt repayment, ultimately ending their contract in May 2022.

Kim Sae-ron's mother also released a written statement via the Hoverlab channel, saying, "Speaking again about a daughter who is no longer with me is painful, but I want to restore her name from the damage caused by false reports. I hope she is remembered as the respected actress she was, not as a tabloid figure."

The family first revealed their claims to Hoverlab the day before, alleging that the relationship began in Kim Sae-ron's teenage years. Kim Sae-ron signed with Gold Medalist in 2019 and had already parted ways with Kim Soo-hyun when her drunk driving incident occurred in 2022. The agency sent a content-certified letter in March 2023 demanding repayment of 700 million won.

Public outcry grows

Gold Medalist has denied the allegations of a romantic relationship between the two actors, calling them "baseless falsehoods" and warning of strong legal action. "The claims that Kim Soo-hyun had a romantic relationship with Kim Sae-ron from the age of 15 and that the agency mistreated her after her DUI incident are entirely untrue," the agency said in a statement.

The agency said that such accusations mirror the behavior of so-called "cyber wreckers," which the late actress herself struggled with during her life. Following the latest revelations, the agency said it is reviewing additional legal steps and would release a statement once plans are finalized.

Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seoul on Feb. 16, which is also Kim Soo-hyun's birthday. He did not attend her memorial.

Her death has reignited calls for stricter oversight of malicious online comments and rumor-driven YouTube content. In this context, her family has turned to the YouTube channel Hoverlab to share their grievances.

While Kim Soo-hyun's side has dismissed the allegations as one-sided claims, the release of the family's phone interviews has shocked the public and fueled a flurry of speculation on social media.

Regardless of the veracity of the claims, Kim's image, previously boosted by his warm appearance on MBC's variety show "Good Day" and his active filming of the Disney+ drama "Knock-Off," has suffered damage.

After the revelations, Kim Soo-hyun's social media has been flooded with negative comments, and viewers are increasingly calling for his removal from the variety show he is currently appearing in.

"Knock-Off" follows the turbulent life of an ordinary office worker who rises to become a global figure in the counterfeit luxury market. While the production team has yet to release any official statement regarding the controversy, attention is now focused on whether Kim Soo-hyun can clear the allegations and restore his public image.

This article is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.