Kim Sae-ron's Mother Reveals Evidence of Alleged Kim Soo-hyun Relationship Dating Back to Her Teens
The mother of late actress Kim Sae-ron released evidence on November 26, 2025, supporting claims that her daughter dated actor Kim Soo-hyun beginning when she was a minor. The disclosure intensifies a controversy that has gripped South Korea's entertainment industry since March.
Family Responds to Ongoing YouTube Allegations
Kim Sae-ron's mother issued her statement through legal representatives, explaining why she chose to break silence despite police recommendations to limit media contact during an active investigation.
The family pointed to lawyer Ko Sang-rok's continued YouTube content as their reason for speaking out. Ko represents Kim Soo-hyun and has been releasing videos addressing the allegations through his channel.
"We have not been responding to the media at all, while the other side continues making statements," the mother's statement read. "We worry the world might believe false claims and that truth will be buried."
The family also accused Ko of causing secondary harm by revealing Kim Sae-ron's aunt's social media account, leading to online harassment.
Six Types of Evidence Made Public
The newly released materials span multiple years and include:
Witness statements from acquaintances who say they knew about the relationship when Kim Sae-ron was underage
September 2017 memo written by Kim Sae-ron before Kim Soo-hyun's October 2017 military enlistment
2018 KakaoTalk messages from February and April showing romantic exchanges
June 2018 photographs taken at Kim Soo-hyun's residence
2024 unsent letter from Kim Sae-ron to Kim Soo-hyun, never delivered before her death
Messages to friends discussing the relationship and her feelings
Pre-Military Messages Show Age Gap Concerns
According to the family, messages from October 2017 reveal Kim Sae-ron expressing willingness to wait for Kim Soo-hyun during his mandatory military service. The exchanges included:
"Can't I say I want to spend every remaining day with you? It's not just because you're going to the military."
"We face difficulties, there are many things we need to overcome. The obvious one is age."
"If you really mean what you said about meeting me again, I can wait for you. Rather than waiting, I can just keep loving you."
Kim Soo-hyun enlisted on October 23, 2017, and served until July 1, 2019, in the 1st Infantry Division's reconnaissance unit. At the time of his enlistment, Kim Sae-ron was 17 years old and in her second year of high school. She was born July 31, 2000, making Kim Soo-hyun 12 years her senior (born February 16, 1988).
Military Service Period Letters and Photos
The family released February 2018 KakaoTalk messages where both parties used heart symbols. Kim Soo-hyun reportedly told Kim Sae-ron "I miss you" and called her "pretty."
"Can such messages not be messages between lovers?" the family questioned.
Photos from June 2018 allegedly show interactions at Kim Soo-hyun's home during his military leave. At that time, Kim Sae-ron was still 17 years old.
2024 Letter References Years-Long Relationship
The most significant piece of evidence may be Kim Sae-ron's unsent 2024 handwritten letter stating: "It's been about 5-6 years since we met. You're both my first love and my last love."
The family emphasized this confirms "Kim Sae-ron dated Kim Soo-hyun for a considerable period from when she was a minor."
If the relationship began in 2015 as alleged, Kim Sae-ron would have been 15 years old while Kim Soo-hyun was 27. South Korea's age of consent is 16, though this applies to peer relationships rather than those with significant age gaps.
Controversy Timeline and Career Impact
The allegations first surfaced in March 2025 through YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, citing Kim Sae-ron's family. This came weeks after Kim Sae-ron died by suicide on February 16, 2025-Kim Soo-hyun's 37th birthday-at her Seoul home. She was 24 years old.
Kim Soo-hyun's agency Gold Medalist initially denied all relationship rumors in March 2024 when Kim Sae-ron briefly posted then deleted a photo of them together. However, on March 14, 2025, the agency reversed course, acknowledging a relationship but claiming it only occurred from summer 2019 to fall 2020 when Kim Sae-ron was 19-20 years old.
The scandal has severely damaged Kim Soo-hyun's career. Luxury brand Prada and cosmetics company Dinto terminated their endorsement contracts. Disney+ indefinitely suspended production on his drama "Knock-Off" in April 2025. He lost nearly 700,000 Instagram followers following the March allegations.
Kim Soo-hyun held an emotional press conference March 31, 2025, denying he dated Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. "I did not date her when she was a minor," he stated. "We were just an ordinary couple like anyone else."
In September 2025, his legal team released excerpts from military service diary entries allegedly showing he dated another actress during that period, with no mentions of Kim Sae-ron. They claim this proves he wasn't romantically involved with her during his service.
Active Investigation Continues
Both sides have filed multiple legal complaints. Kim Soo-hyun's team is pursuing defamation charges against the YouTube channel and Kim Sae-ron's family. The family maintains their evidence is authentic and substantial.
The case remains under investigation by South Korean authorities, with public opinion deeply divided on the allegations.
