(From left) Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron. Images: GoldMedalist
After Kim Soo-hyun’s agency GoldMedalist confirmed the actor’s relationship with Kim Sae-ron, it made a request for an in-person meeting with the mother of the late actress to settle their “differences in opinion.”
Soo-hyun has been making headlines after a woman claiming to be Sae-ron’s aunt said the two actors have been in a relationship since the actress was just a minor at 15, while the actor was 27. This was initially denied by GoldMedalist, but after photos of their romance were leaked by Garosero Research Institute (owner of Hoverlab) and Dispatch, the agency eventually confirmed they were indeed together.
Despite the confirmation, the agency clarified that Sae-ron was not a minor when she got together with Soo-hyun. It also stated that they dated from the “summer of 2019, after Kim Sae-ron became a legal adult, until the fall of 2020.”
In a follow-up statement on Saturday, March 15, GoldMedalist requested an in-person meeting with Sae-ron’s mother to settle the differences between the actor and the late actress’ family.
“We know that no words of comfort will be enough to console the broken heart of Kim Sae-ron’s mother after the loss of her daughter. We express our deepest regret toward the pain that the deceased had to endure,” it said per a Korea JoongAng Daily and The Korea Times translation.
While Garosero previously interviewed Sae-ron’s alleged aunt, it reported on Friday, March 14 that Sae-ron’s mother decided against releasing photos of the actors’ previous romance. Despite this, the outlet said it will release “more bad photos and videos” of the actor.
GoldMedalist claimed that Soo-hyun and Sae-ron’s mother had “differences in opinion” regarding the late actress while reiterating that the ongoing controversy has been “inappropriate” on both sides.
“We also believe that there will be things that she could not have known. It would be inappropriate for us to continue the public argument, especially for the deceased’s mother, who has been trying to recover the late actor’s reputation, and the late actor,” it said.
“Our management would like to meet with the mother and fully explain everything. Please contact us any time at the GoldMedalist office,” the agency further added.
GoldMedalist initially announced that Soo-hyun would clarify his side of his past romance with Sae-ron, however, his statement was released at an earlier date on March 14, citing the actor’s “severe psychological instability.”
Sae-ron sparked relationship speculations with Soo-hyun after she leaked a photo of them in an intimate position in September 2024, although it was denied by GoldMedalist. To note, the agency was founded by Soo-hyun’s cousin Lee Sa-rang and film producer Kim Mi-hye.
The former child actress eventually took her own life at the age of 24 on Feb. 16. She was part of the agency from 2020 to 2022.