Kim Sae-ron’s Funeral Sparks Lump-Sum Deposit Dispute: 50 Million KRW Request Traced to Her Father

Following the tragic death of actress Kim Sae-ron, a controversy has emerged over a 50 million KRW (approx. $36,000 USD) housing deposit requested by her father—an amount that wasn’t hers to claim.

According to a report by Money Today on May 2, it was revealed that Kim Sae-ron’s biological father contacted her landlord just one day after her funeral on February 18, asking for the return of her jeonse (lump-sum) deposit. Unbeknownst to him, the deposit was not under his daughter’s name but had been paid by an executive from an education company, referred to as Mr. A, who had supported Kim financially during her struggles.

Deposit Was a Loan from Acquaintances

Mr. A had helped Kim Sae-ron cover housing deposits for two separate homes—one in Nonhyeon-dong in 2023 and another in Seongsu-dong, where she lived until her passing. A singer friend, identified only as Singer B, also contributed to the Nonhyeon-dong deposit. Both acquaintances had initially refused to lend her money directly, choosing instead to cover the rental deposits in their own names.

The landlord clarified the ownership of the deposit to Kim’s father, who then withdrew the request. A real estate insider commented, “*It appears her father was unaware of the financial arrangements behind her housing.*”

Despite her financial challenges, Kim Sae-ron was praised for never missing rent payments, reportedly covering them through part-time jobs.

Debunking Debt and Relationship Claims

Although her family claimed Kim Sae-ron was under pressure from her former agency, Gold Medalist, over a 700 million KRW debt from a 2022 drunk driving incident, the agency had already written off the debt as uncollectible in 2023. The write-off legally waives further collection efforts, and Kim was not required to repay it.

Her family also alleged that Kim had a long-term underage relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun, claiming it lasted from 2015 to 2021. However, this has been disputed. The timelines don’t align, with Kim Soo-hyun being 28—not 30—at the time, and both were reportedly involved with other people during the alleged period.

Photos and messages used as supposed evidence also fail to support the claim, with several photos misdated or found to feature another man entirely. In these messages, Kim Sae-ron reportedly wrote, “(The relationship with Kim Soo-hyun) lasted from November 19, 2015, to July 7, 2021. I was 16, and he was 30. That’s how our six-year relationship ended.” She also mentioned a photo allegedly taken with Kim Soo-hyun in “2016,” stating, “(At Kim Soo-hyun’s suggestion) I signed with Gold Medalist without any conditions and worked on rookie casting and visual directing without hesitation.”

As the aftermath of Kim Sae-ron’s passing continues to unfold, it highlights the complex financial and emotional entanglements behind her public image. Her story is a sobering reminder of how deeply personal struggles can remain hidden until it’s too late.