GD’s “Good Day” Ratings Already in Crisis, Kim Soo Hyun’s Controversy Adds More Pressure
In episode 2 of “Good Day”, G-Dragon was seen bonding with the “88-line” (Kim Soo Hyun, Jung Hae In, Lee Soo Hyuk, Im Si Wan, Hwang Kwang Hee), all born in 1988. Kim Soo Hyun played a central role among the group, candidly sharing his thoughts about approaching his 40s and impressing with his singing skills.
“Good Day” started with a 4.3% viewership rating for episode 1, but it dropped to 3.6% in episode 2. While episode 3 saw a slight rebound to 3.9%, episode 4 fell back into the 3% range. Given the high-profile cast and the prime-time Sunday evening slot, these numbers are considered disappointing.
“Good Day” is a music project program where G-Dragon acts as a producer, collaborating with various figures to create the song of the year. With Kim Soo Hyun’s outstanding vocal abilities expected to play a key role, the current controversy could impact the project’s future.
Previously, Kim Sae Ron’s family claimed that she and Kim Soo Hyun had dated for six years. According to them, their relationship began on November 19, 2015 and lasted until July 7, 2021. Since Kim Sae Ron was born in 2000, she would have been only 15 at the time, while Kim Soo Hyun, born in 1988, would have been dating a minor if the allegations were true.
In response, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency Gold Medalist strongly denied the claims, stating, “The allegations that the late Kim Sae Ron dated Kim Soo Hyun from the age of 15, that our agency mishandled her DUI incident and that one of our managers had ties to YouTuber Lee Jin Ho are all malicious falsehoods that cannot be overlooked.” The agency announced plans for legal action.
During a shocking live broadcast on March 11, Garo Sero Institute revealed a photo of Kim Soo Hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek and leaked private messages exposing his cold attitude. Public outrage erupted despite the allegations remaining unverified. On the morning of March 12, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency responded, firmly denying all accusations, “Our stance remains unchanged regarding the new allegations from Kim Sae-ron’s family. We once again confirm that Garo Sero Institute is spreading false information.“
Later that afternoon, Dispatch launched its own investigation and confirmed that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae-ron had dated, but due to their age gap, they couldn’t go public. This was why Kim Sae-ron signed an exclusive contract with his agency. Furthermore, Kim Soo Hyun’s company sent Kim Sae-ron a 700 million won debt note, though it wasn’t meant for immediate repayment—just a legal formality. Dispatch also exposed Kim Sae-ron’s unstable final days. She had texted Kim Soo Hyun for help, but he ignored her messages and even leaked screenshots of their conversation to the media.
Following Dispatch’s revelations, the backlash against Kim Soo Hyun intensified. Brands cut ties with him, and he now faces enormous financial losses due to potential contract cancellations. The scandal seems beyond repair, and in the midst of this, G-Dragon’s show “Good Day” is also getting dragged in.
Regarding this, on March 12, MBC’s variety show “Good Day” announced that it has decided to edit out the scene from Episode 5’s preview, in which Jo Se-ho imitates the late Wheesung. The scene will also be removed from the main broadcast.
Additionally, actor Kim Soo-hyun, who has been embroiled in dating rumors with the late Kim Sae-ron and other controversies, also appeared on the show. Regarding this, the “Good Day” team cautiously stated, “Nothing has been decided about Kim Soo-hyun’s screen time.”
Meanwhile, attention is also on Kim Soo Hyun’s upcoming Disney+ series “Knock-Off”. The drama, set to premiere in 2025, follows the tumultuous life of an ordinary office worker who rises to become a global figure in the counterfeit luxury goods market. With Kim Soo Hyun actively working on multiple projects, his involvement in this controversy has sparked debate about the impact on his ongoing and future productions.
Kim Soo-hyun Attended G-Dragon’s Listening Party One Week After Kim Sae-ron’s Funeral
Garo Sero pointed out that on February 25, merely a week after Kim Sae-ron’s funeral, Kim Soo-hyun was spotted enjoying himself at G-Dragon’s listening party. Kim Soo-hyun and G-Dragon first developed their friendship during the filming of the reality show “Good Day.” The actor, along with his 88-line friends, including Jung Hae-in and Kwanghee, was also seen partying at the event. Now, with negative speculation surrounding Kim Soo-hyun, these actions have fueled public outrage. Many have criticized the actor for being cold-hearted and indifferent to the passing of someone he once had a close relationship with.
Additionally, G-Dragon’s album release party was directly mentioned during Garo Sero Institute’s latest livestream. Apart from Kim Soo-hyun, several other celebrities attended the event, including Taeyang, CL, Dara (2NE1), Danielle, Haerin (NewJeans), Baekhyun (EXO), The8 (SEVENTEEN), Bambam (GOT7), Seulgi (Red Velvet), Se7en, producer Code Kunst, and the Kwon Twin brothers.
Fans are now concerned as G-Dragon has suddenly been dragged into the scandal without any direct involvement. The BIGBANG leader has become an unintended target of the controversy, prompting fans to call for rationality and ask netizens to avoid attacking those uninvolved.