Korean drama star Kim Soo-Hyun is at the center of a heated dating controversy surrounding late actress Kim Sae-Ron, who died by suicide earlier this year. A viral video claimed that the two were in a secret relationship while Sae-Ron was 15 and Soo-Hyun was 27.
The controversy began when a YouTube channel released a video featuring statements from Sae-Ron’s aunt, alleging that the actress started dating Soo-Hyun in 2015. According to her aunt, Sae-Ron joined Soo-Hyun’s management company, Gold Medalist, in 2019 and gave him free labor, including acting classes and directing fresh talent.
However, Gold Medalist has denied the allegations, calling them “baseless and malicious.” The agency has also threatened to take legal action against the YouTube channel, which refused to back down despite being mocked by Soo-Hyun’s team.
The controversy took a turn when the YouTube channel released additional content, including a text message from Sae-Ron begging Soo-Hyun for time to pay back $483,000 in damages he had incurred after her DUI scandal in 2022. The message was accompanied by a 2016 picture of Soo-Hyun kissing Sae-Ron on the cheek.
The backlash against Soo-Hyun has been swift, with several brands and television shows cutting ties with him until further clarification is made.
Source: https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/explained-kim-soo-hyuns-controversy-over-dating-late-kim-sae-ron-when-she-was-a-minor-7914276