Debate Over Kim Soo-hyun’s Official Statement Teaser “Prime Example Is Go Joon-hee And ‘Burning Sun Rumors'”
On March 13, Kim Soo-hyun‘s agency Gold Medalist said, “To clarify the facts and respond to baseless rumors, we will issue a statement next week based on clear evidence.”
They further apologized, “We regret causing prolonged fatigue. This is to dismiss the rampant spread of one-sided claims, and we ask for your understanding.”
Typically, official statements aim to correct misinformation, apologize if necessary, and outline measures to prevent recurrence. However, Gold Medalist’s statement merely announces that they will make a statement next week—essentially a statement for the sake of a statement.
Online communities are questioning why it takes three days to simply confirm whether the evidence presented by Garosero Research Institute is true or false.
Some argue that this three-day gap may actually work against Kim Soo-hyun. During this time, Garosero Research Institute may release more evidence regarding Kim Soo-hyun’s alleged relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron, which could result in even more explanations being required.
Delays in addressing rumors often lead to their amplification, solidifying them as perceived truth. The Kim Soo-hyun–Kim Sae-ron rumors contain both factual and false elements, but the longer the delay, the higher the risk that even false claims will be accepted as truth.
A prime example is Go Joon-hee. Last year, Go Joon-hee appeared on the YouTube channel “Zzanbro” and revealed that she suffered significant damage because her agency failed to respond quickly to rumors.
She was falsely linked to the “Burning Sun Gate” after a photo of her with former BIGBANG member Seungri surfaced. In Seungri and Jung Joon-young’s infamous chatroom, the term “actress” was mentioned. Choi Jong-hoon said, “Seungri, OOO (actress) is in New York.” Netizens connected this to Go Joon-hee because she had previously been photographed with Seungri and had frequently traveled to New York.
During the “Zzanbro” broadcast, Go Joon-hee clarified, “That was back in 2015 when I was traveling to New York often. The rumors started from a photo taken back then.” She also revealed, “I told YG that they needed to act quickly, but they dismissed my concerns. When I even asked for an official clarification, they questioned why it was necessary.“
As a result, the rumors spiraled out of control, forcing Go Joon-hee to drop out of a drama. She recalled, “I wanted to sue everyone who ruined my reputation. Korean law is strange—because they only said ‘OOO’ without explicitly mentioning my name, I couldn’t take legal action.”
Meanwhile, some speculate that the three-day delay may give Kim Soo-hyun time to gather evidence in his favor. If he manages to turn the situation around, it could be a strategic move against Garosero Research Institute’s allegations.
Currently, Kim Soo-hyun is facing a severe backlash following Garosero Research Institute’s exposé on his alleged relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron. His advertising deals and projects, including the drama “Knock-Off” and the variety show “Good Day”, are in jeopardy.