Initially, Gold Medalist, the agency representing Kim Soo-hyun, strongly denied dating rumors involving actress Kim Sae-ron. However, as new evidence surfaced, the agency was forced to change its stance.
On March 10, after the bereaved family first disclosed details regarding their relationship, Gold Medalist firmly rejected allegations that:
- Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron had been in a relationship since she was 15 years old.
- The agency had unfairly handled Kim Sae-ron’s drunk driving incident.
However, just days later, on March 14, Gold Medalist officially acknowledged that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron had, in fact, been romantically involved. The agency stated, “Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron dated from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after she became an adult.”
Furthermore, they claimed that all the photos released by the bereaved family through the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (Garo Sero) had been taken after Kim Sae-ron had turned 18.
Regarding a letter Kim Soo-hyun allegedly sent to Kim Sae-ron in June 2018, while he was serving in the military, where he reportedly wrote, “I miss you,” the agency clarified, “It was one of the letters he sent to close acquaintances.”
However, the bereaved family strongly disputes these claims, calling them ‘false.’ They assert that Kim Sae-ron’s personal records indicate that she had been in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun for approximately six years, from 2016 (when she was 16) to 2021. Additionally, they claim that her personal diary and other pieces of evidence further support this timeline.
Did Gold Medalist’s ‘Severance’ and Debt Pressure Contribute to Her Death?
The controversy surrounding Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron’s relationship resurfaced in March last year when Kim Sae-ron uploaded intimate photos of herself with Kim Soo-hyun on Instagram, leading to renewed dating speculation. At the time, Gold Medalist denied any romantic involvement, stating, “Kim Soo-hyun’s dating rumors are groundless. The photos circulating online were likely taken when they were in the same agency. We have no knowledge of Kim Sae-ron’s intentions in posting them.” This denial was later proven to be false when the agency recently admitted that the two had dated.
However, this raises a critical question: why did Kim Sae-ron choose to upload those photos?
Following her drunk driving accident on May 18, 2022, Kim Sae-ron signed a written agreement with Gold Medalist on November 22, 2022. The agreement stipulated that she was required to repay 668.64 million KRW (approximately 461,000 USD) for breaching advertising and drama contracts (Netflix’s Bloodhounds), with a deadline set for December 31, 2023. As part of this arrangement, she also transferred the rights to sell her imported car to Gold Medalist.
By March 15, 2023, Gold Medalist had escalated the situation by hiring the high-profile law firm LKB & Partners to send a formal legal notice to Kim Sae-ron. The letter warned that failure to meet the repayment deadline would result in civil and criminal legal action.
This legal pressure appears to have caused severe distress for Kim Sae-ron. Just four days later, on March 19, 2023, she sent a desperate message to Kim Soo-hyun, “If I suddenly ask for 700 million KRW (approximately 482,000 USD), I really can’t do it. Please save me. I’m begging you.” Kim Soo-hyun did not respond.
Then, on March 24, 2023, Kim Sae-ron posted a photo on Instagram showing herself and Kim Soo-hyun touching cheeks, seemingly an attempt to reach out to him. This fueled further dating rumors.
However, Gold Medalist immediately issued another denial, “We do not understand Kim Sae-ron’s intentions.”
The very next day, on March 25, 2023, Gold Medalist’s legal representatives contacted Kim Sae-ron, stating, “We are reaching out because you seem overly worried and misunderstand our formal request. You can repay it within a reasonable timeframe and method, considering your circumstances.”
Despite this statement, the agency’s repeated public denials effectively painted Kim Sae-ron as someone “seeking attention,” a move that further damaged her reputation and intensified public criticism against her.
The bereaved family believes that Gold Medalist’s ‘false’ public statements and financial pressure directly and indirectly contributed to her tragic passing.
Gold Medalist’s Statement Sparks Further Outrage
As the controversy grew, Gold Medalist questioned the credibility of an individual who had spoken to the media as “Kim Sae-ron’s aunt,” stating, “This person is a friend of Kim Sae-ron’s mother, not a verified family member.”
This remark infuriated the bereaved family. They explained that Kim Sae-ron’s mother had been suffering from facial nerve paralysis due to the immense stress of her daughter’s death, making it difficult for her to engage in public statements.
As a result, “A,” a woman who had cared for Kim Sae-ron since birth, spoke as “Kim Sae-ron’s aunt” during interviews, with the actress’s mother present. The bereaved family emphasized that Kim Sae-ron had saved “A’s” daughter’s contact in her phone as “cousin” and frequently turned to her for advice and emotional support. The two families had been close for over 20 years, and Kim Sae-ron always referred to “A” as “aunt.”
Furthermore, “A” was the first person Kim Sae-ron confided in about her relationship with Kim Soo-hyun, as she had been reluctant to tell her parents.
In response, the bereaved family accused Gold Medalist of launching a deliberate “messenger attack” to undermine their claims and further expressed their frustration over the agency’s handling of the situation.
“Let’s Talk” vs. “Apologize First” – Ongoing Dispute
On March 15, Gold Medalist released yet another statement, arguing that Kim Soo-hyun had also suffered due to Gaseyeon’s reporting. They added, “Publicly disputing this matter is not appropriate for either the deceased or her mother. We would like to provide a thorough explanation. We would appreciate it if you could contact our office.”
However, the bereaved family responded that they had no intention of meeting with Gold Medalist unless the agency issued a formal public apology first. In their latest statement, Kim Sae-ron’s family outlined their demands:
- Kim Soo-hyun must acknowledge and apologize for dating Kim Sae-ron for six years.
- Gold Medalist must apologize for denying their relationship for the past three years.
- Gold Medalist must apologize for pressuring Kim Sae-ron to repay nearly 7 billion KRW (approximately 4.9 million USD) while she was struggling financially and emotionally.
For now, the dispute remains unresolved, with both sides standing firm on their positions. The controversy continues to fuel heated public debate, raising concerns about power dynamics in the entertainment industry, mental health struggles among young celebrities, and the accountability of major talent agencies.
