On March 31, 2025, South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun spoke to the media for the first time following the death of his ex-girlfriend Kim Sae Ron on February 16. Although he initially refuted any romantic involvement with her, her family has claimed that they were in a relationship when she was underage, presenting photos and other proof. As reported by Soompi, Soo Hyun acknowledged that he did date Sae Ron but rejected the allegations put forth by her family.

Kim Soo Hyun explains his reasons for rejecting dating rumors with Kim Sae Ron

Soo Hyun got emotional at the press conference while discussing the recent allegations against him. When rumors about his relationship first came out, he denied dating her, and he explained his reasoning during the event.

He described himself as a ‘coward’ who was ‘always scared of losing something.’ He shared, “When the late individual posted a picture of us together while Queen of Tears was airing, we had actually dated for about a year five years ago, which was four years before the show premiered. Back then, I denied the dating rumors, and I know it’s fair for people to criticize me for that decision. I get it if you find it hard to believe what I’m saying now about my relationship with her.”

Soo Hyun also mentioned that as the lead actor, he felt he couldn’t publicly acknowledge the relationship because of the impact it might have on Queen of Tears. He reflected on whether admitting to dating Sae Ron at that time would have affected the cast, crew, and production company. He concluded by saying he often prioritized ‘star Kim Soo Hyun’ over ‘human Kim Soo Hyun’ and that if given the chance to go back, he would still make the same choice.

Kim Soo Hyun has refuted claims of dating Kim Sae Ron when she was underage

Soo Hyun shared that people around him suggested he should "accept things to a certain extent," implying that if he had, his private life wouldn't have been so publicly scrutinized. He mentioned receiving threats about photos being shared and felt embarrassed by the personal details that were leaked, which forced him to confront falsehoods being presented as truths.

He went on to clarify, “Let me address what you’re most interested in. I did not date the deceased when she was underage. It’s also false to say that she made a tragic decision because I distanced myself or that my agency pressured her regarding her debts. We were both actors, but we were just like any other couple. We had genuine feelings for each other, and eventually, we broke up and rarely kept in touch afterward.”

After Sae Ron's DUI incident in 2022, Soo Hyun admitted he hadn’t reached out to her because he was aware she was in a relationship with someone else. He also provided audio evidence suggesting that Sae Ron was not coerced by his agency, Gold Medalist, to repay her debts. He asserted that her agency was being dishonest and that he would only take responsibility for his own actions.

Soo Hyun alleges that Sae Ron's family shared misleading information

Soo Hyun expressed that the content shared by the family on KakaoTalk was ‘incorrect’ and portrayed him as a paedophile and a minor groomer. He mentioned that he had provided conversations from 2016 to 2018 to a verification agency that examines statements.

While addressing the allegations from Sae Ron’s family, he became emotional, labeling them as ‘false testimonies and false evidence’ regarding their supposed relationship. He added, “I’m worried about what might be twisted and revealed today to paint me as a murderer. I can’t predict what kind of fabricated evidence and testimonies will come out to tarnish my reputation and disturb those around me after this press conference.”

Soo Hyun’s lawyer, Kim Jong Bok, informed the media that Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist are pursuing criminal complaints and civil lawsuits against those involved, including Sae Ron’s family, to ‘set the record straight’ and for ‘defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.’

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