On March 18, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, released an official statement. The statement addressed the claims made during a press conference held on March 17 by the late Kim Sae-ron’s family and Garo Sero Research Institute.
Previously, Kim Sae-ron’s lawyer claimed she sought help from Kim Soo-hyun after the first proof of content, but he didn’t respond. Instead, the agency sent a second notice, pressuring her to repay the debt, avoid contact with agency actors, and face legal action over her photos.
In response, Kim Soo-hyun’s side stated, “Gold Medalist has never demanded any compensation from Kim Sae-ron for any reason. We did not request that she compensate for any damages related to a project. Furthermore, it is impossible to claim damages simply for posting photos on social media or contacting agency actors.”
The agency also denied ever pressuring the deceased to repay her debt, saying, “We determined that Kim Sae-ron was no longer capable of repaying her debt and wrote off the loss in December 2023. This can be confirmed in the audit report released on April 1, 2024, which shows that the debt was written off as of December 31, 2023.”
Additionally, Kim Soo-hyun’s side clarified that they had only addressed matters related to Kim Sae-ron’s debt, stating, “In reality, Kim Sae-ron freely communicated with other actors from the agency.”
Dismissing any ties to YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, Kim Soo-hyun’s side also pointed out, “The ‘former manager of Kim Sae-ron’ mentioned by Garo Sero Research Institute is not affiliated with Gold Medalist but was an employee of a different company that worked with Kim Sae-ron.”
Regarding the rumors about Seo Ye-ji, the agency strongly denied the accusations, “The claim that Gold Medalist defamed Seo Ye-ji is completely false. Even the manager who previously handled Seo Ye-ji (now resigned) was baffled by the rumor and contacted us about it. We urge those spreading false information based on anonymous reports to stop immediately.”
Finally, Kim Soo-hyun’s side addressed the bereaved family of Kim Sae-ron, stating, “Through press conferences and media reports, they continue to assert claims that are not true. Kim Soo-hyun attended the deceased’s funeral, and the person in the photo posted by Kim Sae-ron’s fan account is not Kim Soo-hyun but someone else. We ask them to stop attempting to damage Kim Soo-hyun’s reputation using unrelated photos and online posts.”
Summary of Kim Soo-hyun’s Official Statement
Compensation Claims
- Gold Medalist has never demanded compensation from Kim Sae-ron for any reason.
- As confirmed in the proof of content documents, the agency did not request Kim Sae-ron to compensate for damages related to any project. It is also impossible to claim damages simply for posting photos on social media or contacting agency actors.
Allegations of Debt Repayment Pressure
- The agency never pressured Kim Sae-ron to repay her debt.
- Kim Sae-ron and the agency worked together to resolve the damages caused by her DUI incident, successfully reducing the remaining compensation amount to approximately 700 million won. However, as Kim Sae-ron faced difficulties in continuing her career, the agency determined that she was no longer able to repay the debt and wrote off the loss in December 2023.
- The audit report released on April 1, 2024, confirms that the debt was officially written off as of December 31, 2023.
- The second proof of content was merely a legal procedure providing guidance and expressing the agency’s willingness to discuss repayment methods and schedules.
Restrictions on Contacting Agency Actors
- The second proof of content simply advised Kim Sae-ron to communicate about debt-related matters only with her legal representative. It instructed her not to discuss these matters with individuals without legal authority.
- The agency’s mention of contact restrictions referred only to matters related to the debt issue. It advised Kim Sae-ron not to inquire about it with unrelated parties. In reality, she freely communicated with other agency actors.
Relationship with YouTuber Lee Jin-ho
- Gold Medalist has no connection with YouTuber Lee Jin-ho.
- The “former manager of Kim Sae-ron” mentioned by Garo Sero Research Institute is not affiliated with Gold Medalist. They were an employee of another company that worked with Kim Sae-ron.
Rumors Regarding Actress Seo Ye-ji
- The claim that Gold Medalist defamed Seo Ye-ji is completely false.
- Seo Ye-ji’s former manager (who has since resigned) was also shocked by the rumor and contacted the agency regarding it.
- The agency urges an immediate stop to the spread of false information based on anonymous reports.
False Claims by the Bereaved Family and Gaseyeon
- The bereaved family and Garo Sero Research Institute continue to make false claims through press conferences and media reports. For example, Kim Soo-hyun attended the deceased’s funeral. The person in the photo uploaded on Kim Sae-ron’s fan SNS account is not Kim Soo-hyun but someone else.
- The agency requests an end to attempts to damage Kim Soo-hyun’s reputation using unrelated photos and online posts.
Sources: Kbizoom