Kim Sae-ron Pushed to the Brink & Posted Intimate Photos with Kim Soo-hyun due to This Person
On March 10, a person claiming to be Kim Sae-ron’s aunt gave an interview to Garo Sero Institute, a YouTube channel run by former journalists and lawyers specializing in entertainment industry scandals in South Korea. In addition to revealing that Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun had been dating for six years, since when Kim Sae-ron was a minor, the late actress’ aunt also accused Gold Medalist, the management company founded by Kim Soo-hyun and his cousin Lee Sa-rang (also known as Lee Ro-bae), of misconduct.
Accordingly, Kim Sae-ron joined Gold Medalist and took on the role of coaching and guiding new actors without receiving any compensation, at the same time working diligently as if the company were her own. In 2022, after her drunk driving scandal, Kim Sae-ron had to pay penalties for breaching film and advertisement contracts, while Kim Soo-hyun lent Kim Sae-ron 700 million KRW (approx. 480,000 USD) to cover these costs without demanding immediate repayment. As a result, Kim Sae-ron confided in her aunt that although there was no set deadline for repayment, she would still work hard to pay him back.
By 2024, the actress received a debt certificate for the aforementioned 700 million KRW. Kim Sae-ron broke down in tears as she had already used up all her money for compensation and had nothing left. She believed that Kim Soo-hyun did not send the debt notice himself, but rather it was sent by Lee Sa-rang, his cousin and co-founder of Gold Medalist. She tried calling Kim Soo-hyun to ask about it, but he did not answer. Her cousin also tried reaching out to him but received no response. Instead, she later received a call from an unknown number, which turned out to be a journalist asking if she was indeed Kim Sae-ron.
On March 11, Garo Sero Institute, the YouTube channel that previously claimed Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were in a six-year relationship, released additional evidence to support their allegations. This included an intimate photo of the two and a text message Kim Sae-ron sent to Kim Soo-hyun on March 19, 2023, further fueling public controversy. The most alarming revelation is Kim Sae-ron’s text message.
In the message, Kim Sae-ron wrote:
“Oppa, it’s me, Sae-ron. I received the proof of content document. They’re suing me… They said they’d give me time, so I’ve been working hard to prepare for my return and plan to gradually repay the amount through every project. It’s not that I refuse to pay, but if they demand the full 700 million KRW immediately, I really can’t do it. It’s not that I won’t, but I simply can’t. Does it really have to come to a lawsuit? Please save me… I’m begging you. Please give me more time.”
In particular, according to Dispatch on March 12, Kim Soo-hyun’s side took action by sending a debt notice at a time when Kim Sae-ron was unable to repay. The debt notice stated: “If the full amount is not repaid in a short period, we will take civil and criminal legal action.” Unable to settle the debt immediately, Kim Sae-ron reportedly sent a plea for help to Kim Soo-hyun. The actor is said to have forwarded her distress message to several reporters, inadvertently revealing her phone number.
When this message was revealed, many people couldn’t help but feel disappointed in Kim Soo-hyun. Given his financial capability, he could have allowed Kim Sae-ron to repay the debt gradually – or even covered the amount for her entirely.
The 700 million KRW that Kim Sae-ron owed was equivalent to just about two episodes’ worth of Kim Soo-hyun’s drama earnings. In 2024, for his role in “Queen of Tears,” Kim Soo-hyun was reportedly paid 300 million KRW per episode, amounting to nearly 5 billion KRW (approximately 3.5 million USD) for all 16 episodes.
In the end, Kim Sae-ron posted intimate photos with Kim Soo-hyun on Instagram, believing it was the only way to get him to contact her. However, Gold Medalist denied the dating rumors and stated, “We do not understand her intentions.” Because of this photo, Kim Sae-ron faced severe backlash from netizens, who labeled her as a fabricator.
Additionally, YouTuber and former journalist Lee Jin-ho frequently posted negative videos about Kim Sae-ron, leading to similar negative news articles. Each time, she was so distressed that she harmed herself, forcing her family to keep watch over her 24/7. Her cousin was always by her side to take care of her. A few days before her passing, Kim Sae-ron was extremely thin and mentally exhausted. Despite this, she still tried to cook fried rice for her aunt. Little did her aunt know that it would be the last meal she would ever eat from Kim Sae-ron.
As of the moment, Gold Medalist has denied all allegations revealed by Garo Sero Institute and announced plans to take legal action. However, netizens remain skeptical about the true story of the story. If the claims are true, then the person who sent the debt notice that pushed Kim Sae-ron to the edge was Lee Sa-rang. Kim Soo-hyun is also responsible for ignoring her.