Public Opinion Divided Over The Release Of Kim Soo-hyun’s Photo Taken At Kim Sae-ron’s House
Since March 10th, the YouTube channel “Garosero Research Insitute” has been revealing proof after claiming that the late actress Kim Sae-ron and actor Kim Soo-hyun had been in a romantic relationship for six years, starting when Kim Sae-ron was 15 years old. Following that, this channel has been accusing Kim Soo-hyun of “grooming”. Continuing their revelation, “Garosero Research Insitute” has been releasing past photos of Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron. On the 15th, they further fueled the controversy by revealing a photo of a man, presumed to be Kim Soo-hyun, appearing to be half-naked taken at Kim Sae-ron’s house.
They stated, “This photo was taken at Kim Sae-ron’s house. The person in the picture is wearing a long t-shirt as sleepwear. We want to make it clear that he was not wearing pants,” emphasizing that “this photo was taken when he was not wearing pants”.
Alongside this, Kim Sae-ron’s family also released an official statement. Accordingly, they demanded that Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, acknowledge and officially apologize for the actor’s romance with Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. They also called for recognition and an apology regarding Kim Sae-ron’s contributions as a founding member of the company, as well as acknowledgment and an apology for the content certification and repayment request of 700 million KRW issued to Kim Sae-ron. Additionally, they claimed that the release of Kim Soo-hyun’s photo was intended to disprove false claims made by reporter-turned-YouTuber Lee Jin-ho.
In this regard, the public has been showing sharply divided opinions. While some argue that if Kim Soo-hyun was indeed in a relationship with Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor, he should be held accountable, others criticize the exposure of the actor’s private and intimate photos, saying that it crossed the line. Many netizens have voiced concerns, such as “Imagine if their genders were reversed”, “Isn’t this too much?”, “Releasing such photos is a crime”, etc.
Others have questioned the rationale behind linking Kim Soo-hyun to Kim Sae-ron’s past issues, saying, “Does he have to cover her drunk driving issue or pay off her debts just because he’s her ex-boyfriend?”, “It’s unfortunate what happened to Kim Sae-ron, but the drunk driving incident was her own fault”, “Should we let the bereaved family do anything because of Kim Sae-ron’s passing?”, etc.
Doubts are also growing about the true intentions of “Garosero Research Insitute”. While the channel claims to restore the late Kim Sae-ron’s reputation, its repeated revelations have fueled numerous rumors, including speculations about pregnancy and abortion. Rather than clearing her name, they seem to be tarnishing it further. Moreover, despite claiming to “help the bereaved family,” Garosero Research Insitute has been accepting donations while also soliciting support to reach “one million subscribers.” This has led to accusations that they are exploiting the tragedy to make money.
Netizens also agreed that many stars had left the world due to malicious comments and rumors like Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung so people should refrain from spreading excessive criticism.
Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency Gold Medalist confirmed the actor’s past relationship with Kim Sae-ron but it happened after the late actress became an adult. The agency added that the two had already broken up for four years, making it difficult to acknowledge some rumors. In addition, Gold Medalist also clarified that the content certification demanding 700 million won in damages was not intended as pressure or coercion. Therefore, the agency expressed their desire to meet directly with Kim Sae-ron’s mother to clear up misunderstandings.