At 7 PM (KST) March 11, the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute, run by a group of lawyers and former journalists known for exposing hidden scandals in the entertainment industry, held a livestream revealing the truth about Kim Soo Hyun and exposing the difficult circumstances Kim Sae Ron endured before her passing.
During a conversation with the Garo Sero host, a woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt made a shocking revelation: one month before she was found dead at home, Kim Sae Ron had attempted suicide but was saved in time.
The aunt alleged that the primary reason for Kim Sae Ron’s extreme action was former journalist and YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, who had attacked and mocked her with baseless speculation on social media. His harmful videos fueled an online hate campaign against the actress, further deteriorating her mental health.
According to her family, Kim Sae Ron had suffered from severe depression since 2021, following the end of her six-year relationship with Kim Soo Hyun. The breakup left her devastated, leading her to frequent drinking as a coping mechanism. Her drinking problem eventually spiraled out of control, culminating in a drunk driving scandal that destroyed her career and personal life.
Kim Sae Ron’s Suicide Attempt and Struggles Before Her Passing
February 16, 2025: Kim Sae Ron was found dead at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul.
At her funeral, Kim Sae Ron’s father personally reported YouTuber A (suspected to be Lee Jin Ho) to Kwon Young Chan, the director of Korea’s Suicide Prevention Agency for Artists, stating that his harmful videos had deeply hurt his daughter. Kim Sae Ron’s family intends to sue YouTuber A after the funeral, holding him accountable for her suffering.
Lee Jin Ho Accused of Deleting Evidence and Avoiding Responsibility
Following Kim Sae Ron’s father’s accusation, Lee Jin Ho was caught deleting evidence, including all critical videos about Kim Sae Ron from his YouTube channel.
On March 16, Daily Business Star Today reported that Bu Ji-seok, the legal representative of the late Kim Sae-ron’s family and the head of the law firm Buyu, plans to submit a complaint to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on March 17 regarding defamation of the deceased.
Previously, YouTuber Lee Jin-ho had produced multiple videos about Kim Sae-ron’s life over the past three years. After hearing the news of her passing, they set the related videos to private.
Kim Sae-ron’s family stated, “On January 8, the day Lee Jin-ho uploaded a video, Kim Sae-ron attempted extreme choices more than six times. During the funeral proceedings and even after the burial, Lee called, saying they couldn’t find the memorial site. They claim it was for fact-checking, but the bereaved family feels ridiculed and deeply offended,” demanding an apology.
Meanwhile, on March 13, Lee Jin-ho stated on their YouTube channel, “The claim that I was instructed by Kim Soo-hyun to produce videos related to Kim Sae-ron is malicious, unilateral, and completely false.”
They further added, “I have never contacted or been contacted by Kim Soo-hyun, his agency, or any related individuals. When covering Kim Sae-ron, the manager I contacted was not from Gold Medalist but was someone assisting with her return to the entertainment industry at that time.”
Lee continued, “On February 20, the day after Kim Sae-ron’s funeral, I reached out to the bereaved family to express my intention to apologize morally. I will cooperate fully with the investigation to reveal the truth transparently. I will sincerely participate in all inquiries and disclose the results to the public. If any of the content I covered is proven incorrect, I will take full responsibility. I will not evade any accountability.”