2 days Ago By Variety
South Korean A-list actor Kim Soo-hyun made an emotional appearance at a press conference Monday, vehemently denying allegations that he dated actress Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. “I can’t admit to something I didn’t do,” the 37-year-old star declared through tears, according to the BBC , addressing the controversy that has rocked the Korean entertainment industry since Kim Sae-ron’s apparent suicide in February. More from Variety The scandal centers on two explosive claims: that Kim Soo-hyun had a relationship with Kim Sae-ron when she was just 15, and that his agency pressured her to repay a debt prior to her death.
Kim Soo-hyun, star of Netflix’s recent hit “Queen of Tears” and beloved for roles in “My Love from the Star” and “Secretly, Greatly,” acknowledged dating the actress, but insisted their relationship occurred only between 2019 and 2020, when she was an adult. “Except for the fact that both of us were actors, our relationship was just like that of any other ordinary couple,” he stated at the press conference. The controversy erupted when a YouTube channel published videos and photos allegedly documenting a six-year relationship beginning when Kim Sae-ron was 15.
Her family’s attorney later presented chat history allegedly between the actors from 2016, when she was 16. Kim also defended his previous denial of the relationship when Kim Sae-ron posted (and later deleted) a photo of them together during the “Queen of Tears” broadcast. “I had so much to protect as its lead actor,” he explained.
“What would have happened if I had admitted to a year-long relationship? What would happen to the actors, the staff who were working overnight and the production team who had everything staked on that project?” Kim strongly rejected claims that his agency, GoldMedalist, had pressured Kim Sae-ron over a debt related to a 2022 drunk-driving incident. He played a recorded phone call suggesting the agency had offered her time to respond about the debt. The scandal has significantly impacted Kim’s career, with brands including Prada and Korean cosmetics company Dinto ending their partnerships with the actor.
A Disney+ production starring Kim has also been paused, according to Yonhap news agency. Kim’s legal team has filed criminal complaints against Kim Sae-ron’s family and the YouTube channel, along with a civil lawsuit seeking damages of KRW12 billion (approximately $8.1 million).
Kim Sae-ron was considered one of South Korea’s most promising young actresses before her career was derailed by the 2022 drunk-driving incident. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .
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