On March 18, 2025, Gold Medalist, the agency representing actor Kim Soo-hyun, addressed allegations regarding his absence from the funeral of actress Kim Sae-ron. Previously, an individual claiming to be Kim Sae-ron’s aunt criticized both the agency and Kim Soo-hyun for not attending the funeral, labeling him as “cold-hearted” towards his former partner.
In their statement, Gold Medalist refuted these claims, stating, “The bereaved family asserts that our company did not attend the funeral. However, our company attended the funeral on February 17 and 19, 2025. We met directly with the bereaved family, offered condolences, and provided funeral wreaths along with condolence money.” They also presented photographs of the wreaths as evidence. However, the statement did not specify whether Kim Soo-hyun personally attended the funeral.
Additionally, Gold Medalist questioned the authenticity of the individual claiming to be Kim Sae-ron’s aunt, suggesting she might be a family acquaintance rather than a biological relative. The agency stated, “Typically, when someone reveals themselves as an aunt of Kim Sae-ron through media outlets, it implies being the mother’s biological sister. Public trust in the media can vary depending on whether the information provider is an actual relative or merely an acquaintance. During the press conference, the bereaved family did not clarify whether the informant is a real relative or just an acquaintance.”
However, the family maintains that this person had been close to Kim Sae-ron since childhood and had accompanied her to the agency on multiple occasions. Furthermore, the agency denied claims that a man in a red shirt, depicted in a circulated photograph, was not Kim Soo-hyun. They emphasized that Kim Soo-hyun had never visited Kim Sae-ron’s residence. Initially, the bereaved family did not accuse the actor of visiting her home but altered their stance after the photo surfaced on social media.
This situation has sparked discussions regarding the responsibilities of agencies and artists in managing personal relationships and public perceptions.
