Actor Kim Soo-hyun / Courtesy of tvN

Actor Kim Soo-hyun acknowledged that he was in a relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron, but denied allegations that it began while she was a minor.

"Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were in a relationship from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after she became a legal adult," his agency Gold Medalist said in a statement released Friday. "It is not true that he dated her when she was a minor."

His agency also refuted claims that it pressured Kim Sae-ron over a 700 million won ($530,000) penalty fee.

The controversy was sparked by a video posted by YouTube channel Hoverlab, also known as Garo Sero Institute. The video claimed, through interviews with someone claiming to be Kim Sae-ron's family, that Kim and the actress began dating when she was 15 years old and that a 700 million won compensation claim was made against her after her DUI incident.

The agency had previously denied dating rumors when photos of the two surfaced on social media. Two photos showing Kim kissing Kim Sae-ron also went viral, fueling public criticism and affecting anticipation for Kim's upcoming projects.

"In the early hours of today, Kim Soo-hyun showed signs of severe psychological distress. We have taken measures to ensure his stability," the agency said in the statement. "Since the Garo Sero report, Kim has suffered extreme confusion due to claims blaming him for the actress's sudden death. People with cameras have also been loitering around his residence, adding to the psychological pressure."

The agency refuted Garo Sero Institute's claim that two photos showing the pair kissing on the cheek were taken in 2016 as evidence of a relationship.

It said that the photos were actually taken in winter 2020 and on Christmas Eve 2019. As supporting evidence, the agency pointed to the metadata stored in the images and noted that the outfit Kim Sae-ron wore in the photo was a product released in 2019.

"There is no photo from 2016 because the two were not in a relationship at that time. A letter Kim sent to Kim Sae-ron during his military service was simply one of many friendly letters sent to close acquaintances, and the phrase 'I miss you' was a casual expression often used by soldiers."

While acknowledging the relationship, the agency said false rumors must stop. "Many people are now treating inaccurate information and unverified claims as truth. These are baseless rumors spread without even verifying with those involved. It also invades the late actress's privacy and tarnishes her reputation," it said.

A photo of Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron, released by Hoverlab / Captured from YouTube

Financial issue

The agency also rejected claims that Kim Soo-hyun ignored Kim Sae-ron's financial struggles. It explained that the remaining debts from her DUI case, which she could not repay alone, were covered by the agency.

This included penalties related to her canceled acting projects and compensation to businesses affected by the incident, amounting to about 1.14 billion won.

"The debt issue was solely between Gold Medalist and Kim Sae-ron," the agency said. "Claims that Kim Soo-hyun lent her money or tried to reclaim it are groundless."

The statement concluded, "Kim Soo-hyun is now being wrongfully portrayed as the cause of the late actress's tragic end. Since the Garo Sero report, all of his past actions are being misinterpreted as deliberate wrongdoing. Just because he is a public figure does not mean he must accept endless false accusations and personal attacks."

Gold Medalist said it decided to release the statement earlier than planned, although it was originally scheduled for next week, due to Kim Soo-hyun's deteriorating mental state.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.