Kim Soo-hyun’s Agency Alters Stance Following Kim Sae-ron’s Photo Release, Expresses Willingness to Negotiate

According to documents obtained by Hankyung on March 18, the first certified letter, dated March 15, 2024, stated, “As a representative of Gold Medalist, we urge you to repay your debt as follows.” The recipient was listed as ‘Kim Ah-im,’ the name Kim Sae-ron adopted after her legal name change.

The letter detailed that on November 22, 2022, Kim Sae-ron borrowed 686.4 million won from the agency, agreeing to repay it by December 31, 2023. Gold Medalist noted that despite the due date passing, the debt remained unpaid and urged prompt repayment to the specified account, warning of potential civil and criminal legal actions if the payment was not made.

Following this, Kim Sae-ron reached out to Kim Soo-hyun and agency staff, requesting an extension for the repayment period but received no response. She made multiple calls and sent messages to Kim Soo-hyun, stating, “It’s not that I don’t want to repay; I can’t. Please help me.” After receiving no reply, she posted a photo with Kim Soo-hyun on her social media in the early hours of March 24, 2024 only to delete it three minutes later, aiming to prompt a reaction from the agency.

After this incident, the agency sent a second certified letter on March 25, 2024, explaining that the initial demand for repayment was to prevent potential charges of breach of trust against the company’s executives due to the overdue debt. They expressed a willingness to proactively discuss the methods and timing of the debt repayment, asking Kim Sae-ron to propose a feasible repayment schedule. The agency also requested that she refrain from contacting their actors or staff regarding the debt issue.

The agency further highlighted that Kim Soo-hyun was involved in “Queen Of Tears” drama at the time, and such actions could negatively impact not only him and the agency but also the production company, fellow actors, staff, broadcasters, and OTT platforms, potentially leading to significant legal issues. They urged her to avoid actions that could disrupt the agency’s operations.

Attorney Boo Ji-seok, representing Kim Sae-ron’s family, argued that while the agency mentioned the necessity to avoid charges of breach of trust, the letter essentially demanded repayment within a set period. He also claimed that the agency’s request for her to avoid direct contact with their actors and the warning against posting photos were threats of legal action. He added that after the second certified letter, there was no further contact from Kim Soo-hyun.

In response, Kim Sae-ron’s family hinted at potential legal action against Kim Soo-hyun.

Previously, the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute alleged that Kim Sae-ron had been in a six-year relationship with Kim Soo-hyun since November 2015, starting when she was 15 years old, and that Gold Medalist had sent a certified letter demanding the repayment of 700 million won related to her drunk driving incident.

Regarding these claims, Gold Medalist clarified that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron dated from the summer of 2019, after she became an adult, until the fall of 2020, denying any relationship during her minor years. They also stated that the debt issue was solely between the agency and Kim Sae-ron, refuting allegations that Kim Soo-hyun personally lent her money or demanded repayment.