31-3-2025 (SEOUL) South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has found himself at the heart of a storm following the disclosure of his past romance with the late actress Kim Sae-ron. The revelation, which has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world, prompted a swift and severe backlash, with several brands cutting ties with the star, casting a shadow over his once-glittering career. Initially, Kim denied the relationship, a decision that has since fuelled public outrage, particularly amid claims that it began when Kim Sae-ron was still a minor—an allegation he vehemently refutes.
After three weeks of silence, broken only by the hum of speculation since the Garo Sero Research Institute first aired the claims, Kim stepped into the spotlight at a press conference in Seoul. Clad in a sombre black suit, he took to the stage, bowing solemnly before an audience eager for answers. Accompanied by his lawyer, he made it clear there would be no questions, only a carefully prepared statement. In it, he laid bare the internal conflict that has plagued him, admitting that he often placed the polished veneer of his celebrity status above his own humanity. “Time and again, when faced with a choice between the man and the icon, I leaned towards the latter,” he confessed, his voice steady yet tinged with regret.
Kim spoke candidly of the burden of fame, reflecting on how he evolved from a man of modest beginnings into someone with much to lose. “I started with little, but I’ve been given so much to safeguard,” he said, acknowledging the scepticism that now greets his words about his relationship with Kim Sae-ron. “I know my account of what happened between us might not be believed, but I ask you to hear me out this once.” He admitted to his earlier denials, recognising the criticism they’ve attracted. “I denied it then, and I can’t fault those who judge me for it,” he said, his tone heavy with the weight of hindsight.
The actor didn’t shy away from his regrets, painting a picture of a man wrestling with fear and indecision. “Each time a piece of our story came to light, I thought about laying it all bare, ending the torment,” he revealed. “But I was a coward, too afraid of losing what I’d built.” That fear, he explained, kept him silent—until now. In a moment of raw vulnerability, he apologised for the pain his actions had caused. “I’m truly sorry. My choices have hurt so many, and it grieves me that Kim Sae-ron cannot rest in peace because of this.”
Visibly moved, Kim reflected on his role as the lead in Queen of Tears, questioning whether he had the right to prioritise his own comfort over the welfare of his colleagues. “Could I really choose my own peace at their expense? The more I dwelt on it, the more I knew it wasn’t right,” he said, his emotions spilling over. He pondered the ripple effects of admitting to a year-long relationship during the show’s airing—how it might have jeopardised the cast, crew, and agency staff who had poured their all into the project.
Yet Kim was resolute in setting the record straight. Raising his voice, he tackled the most damaging accusation head-on: “I never dated Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. That is a falsehood I’ve been forced to confront.” He described a relationship that, to him, was ordinary—two actors who shared genuine affection, parted ways, and struggled to maintain contact thereafter. “Like anyone else, reaching out to an ex is delicate,” he noted, dismissing suggestions that her tragic end stemmed from his influence or agency pressure over debts as baseless and distressing.
The actor’s anguish deepened as he addressed claims from Kim Sae-ron’s family, who have branded him a manipulator and even a murderer, alleging he preyed on her youth and drove her to despair. Breaking down in tears, he refuted their narrative, pointing to inconsistencies in their evidence—a KakaoTalk message riddled with errors, a recorded call that didn’t align with their timeline. “I won’t confess to what I haven’t done,” he insisted, vowing to investigate their accusations thoroughly while accepting criticism for his own missteps.
Kim’s statement was a tightrope walk between accountability and defiance. He owned his cowardice and selfishness, yet pleaded for understanding, haunted by the thought of betraying those who’ve supported him. “If I gave in to lies, I’d be letting down everyone who’s believed in me,” he said, his resolve firm despite the anxiety gnawing at him. As he rose to offer a final apology, the room felt the weight of his words—a man caught between his public mask and private truth, determined to reclaim his integrity.
Following his address, Kim’s lawyer, Kim Jong-bok, stepped forward, announcing that legal action was underway. With a criminal complaint filed against Kim Sae-ron’s family and the operators of Hoverlab, alongside a 12 billion won damages claim lodged in the Supreme Central District Court, the battle for the facts has only just begun. In a world where rumours can harden into perceived truth, Kim Soo-hyun’s fight is as much for his reputation as it is for his peace.
