The unfortunate passing of actor Kim Sae Ron back in February of this year took everyone by surprise. What followed was even more shocking, as an entire dating scandal involving Sae Ran and actor Kim Soo Hyun came to light. The latter was accused of having been romantically involved with the late actor when she was just a minor, even though his legal team has been fighting off the claims ever since. Now new evidence has been revealed by Kim Sae Ron’s mother to back up their claim, while Soo Hyun’s legal team has dismissed it.
Kim Sae Ron’s mother released several memos and recordings to prove that Soo Hyun was in fact dating her daughter before she became an adult. In an official press conference, the mother addressed the case and said, “After much deliberation, I have gathered the courage to write this. While we complied with the investigative agency’s request to refrain from media contact, Kim Soo-hyun’s legal representative has been persistently posting false claims on their YouTube channel to incite public opinion.”
Kim Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron as a minor, claims her mother
Kim Sae Ron’s mother admitted that she is afraid of the world believing in the other side’s story and never realising the truth of what happened to her daughter. “I fear the world might believe the other party’s falsehoods, and the truth could be buried. Kim Soo-hyun’s side has framed our evidence as fabricated, claiming, ‘Kim Sae-ron never dated Kim Soo-hyun during her minority.’ Even if additional materials are disclosed today, they will likely repeat the same argument. Whether the evidence was fabricated or whose account is accurate will soon be revealed through the investigative agency’s findings,” said Sae Ron’s mother.
She claimed that she possesses several testimonies given by mutual friends and acquaintances, which will prove the existence of a romantic relationship. For example, in a recording, one of the aforementioned people said that ‘Hyun’s older brother had taken Ron to the airport.’ Was Ron 18 years old back then?” She had another audio recording, a handwritten note, KakaoTalk messages, photographs and a letter allegedly written by Kim Sae-ron.”
A memo which was forensically extracted from Hyun’s phone contained messages like, “Can’t I say I want to spend every remaining day with you? Oppa, it’s not just because of the military. We have many obstacles to overcome. The first is my visible presence. If you truly meant to meet me again, I can wait. Not wait, but keep loving you.” Ron’s mother argued that “These are expressions only possible between lovers. It’s evident they were already in a romantic relationship before the memo was written on September 28, 2017.” In addition, the previously mentioned handwritten note had Ron referring to Hyun as her “first and last love”.
For further context, Ron was born in 2000, which means that during the above conversations, she was in fact a minor. Phrases like “I want to see you right now” and “I am completely undressed” were also found in the memo, and Ron’s mother said, “This proves they were lovers.”
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Kim Soo Hyun’s Legal Team’s Response
Hyun’s legal representative, Go Sang-rok of Law Firm Pil, was quick to respond to all the new evidence and talked to Yonhap News about the same. He said, “These are materials we’ve already submitted to the investigative agency. They are unrelated to Kim Soo-hyun or were written solely by the deceased. They lack evidentiary value, and detailed forensic data also differ.”
Apart from this, the legal team had previously filed a lawsuit against Ron’s family, claiming that they fabricated messages, and this whole narrative has hurt Hyun’s image and career. They are seeking damages worth 12 billion KRW (Rs 73 crore). Hyun has also publicly denied dating Ron during the time she was a minor, and he also stated that her unfortunate choice of leaving this life was not a result of his indifference.
Kim Sae Ron’s mother seeks disciplinary action against Kim Soo Hyun’s attorney
In a new statement, Kim Sae Ron’s mother said Attorney Go Sang-rok, who represents Kim Soo Hyun, insulted Kim Sae Ron on social media. He called her a ‘bipolar crazy person, mentally unstable and a minor sl*t’. She added that he has also targeted the bereaved family. “We filed a petition today with the Korean Bar Association and the Seoul Bar Association seeking discipline against attorney Go Sang-rok,” she said as per Chosun.
She said that the family and her late daughter is also being targeted by the actor’s fans who claim they are delaying investigation.
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What happened before Kim Sae Ron’s death?
For the uninitiated, Ron’s family claimed that the actor took her life because she was being pressured by her former agency, Gold Medallist, to pay her debts. An investigation by Dispatch revealed that the agency, which also represents Hyun, sent her a Certificate of Contents, asking for repayment for damages caused. “Sae Ron was among Gold Medallist’s top stars in 2022 when a ‘driving under influence’ conviction derailed her career and sent her into a spiral of depression.
The agency claimed that she still owed them ₩686 million KRW (approximately $473,000), with a due date that had already passed (December 31, 2023.) The letter warned that if she failed to pay, the agency would pursue both civil and criminal legal action against her. Out of desperation, Ron sent out a message to Hyun saying, “Oppa, this is Sae Ron. I received a certification letter today saying [your company] is suing me. You promised to give me time, and I’m working hard to make a comeback. I said I’d pay you back with my earnings, bit by bit. It’s not that I won’t pay—it’s that I can’t right now. If you suddenly demand ₩700 million KRW, I really have no way. Do you really have to go as far as suing me? Please, save me… I’m begging you. Give me some time.”
No help came from either the agency or Hyun, and on February 16, 2025, Ron passed away.
