Kim Soo Hyun has found himself amidst a storm of discontent from both devoted fans and harsh critics, following the media uproar over his romantic scandal involving the late minor celebrity, Kim Sae Ron. The revelations initially emerged on a YouTube channel, which uncovered the alleged affair, entangling both Kim Soo Hyun and his management agency, Gold Medalist, in a saga that culminated in Sae Ron's tragic suicide earlier in March.
The furore has only intensified as various online claims have surfaced, including vintage social media posts, purportedly exchanged messages from Sae Ron, and intimate photographs. Adding fuel to the fire, Dispatch Korea has recently published an exposé shedding light on the tumultuous relationship between Kim Sae Ron and her former agency. This report has sparked concerns regarding whether Gold Medalist genuinely acted in Sae Ron's best interests, particularly in the poignant days leading up to her demise.
According to Dispatch's revelations, in March 2024, Kim Soo Hyun's agency dispatched an official "Certificate of Contents" to Kim Sae Ron, demanding repayment for damages incurred. In 2022, Sae Ron had shone brightly as one of Gold Medalist's top stars until a conviction for driving under the influence derailed her promising career and plunged her into a profound depression.
Nonetheless, Gold Medalist insisted that she still owed them a staggering sum of ₩686 million KRW (roughly $473,000), with the deadline for repayment having already expired on December 31, 2023. The letter issued by the agency served as a stark warning; failure to comply with the repayment demand would result in both civil and criminal legal actions being pursued against her.
At that juncture, Kim Sae Ron was reportedly grappling with severe financial constraints. As the solitary pillar supporting her family, she bore multiple burdens amidst a mountain of debt. Her contract with Gold Medalist had expired without renewal, and she harbored the hopeful notion that her debts might have been discreetly settled. However, the abrupt legal notice struck her to her very core. Feeling backed into a corner, she reached out in an emotional distress signal to actor Kim Soo Hyun, who was not only a leading man in the industry but also a co-proprietor of Gold Medalist.
Dispatch obtained a heartfelt message Kim Sae Ron dispatched to Kim Soo Hyun: “Oppa, it's Sae Ron. Today, I received a certification letter stating that [your company] is filing a lawsuit against me. You had promised me time, and I've been diligently striving for a comeback. I vowed to repay you little by little from my earnings. It's not that I refuse to pay; it's just that I can't at the moment. If you suddenly demand 700 million KRW, I genuinely have no means to comply. Must you resort to suing me? Please, rescue me… I'm imploring you. Grant me some time.”
Dispatch revealed that Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun had previously been romantically intertwined. According to K-media reports, she initially inked her contract with his agency due to their past connection. Despite their shared history, the Queen of Tears actress allegedly remained unheard in her plea to Kim Soo Hyun. Subsequently, Kim posted an aged photograph of them together, seemingly aiming to capture his attention.
Following the social media uproar, Dispatch reached out to Kim Sae Ron. She offered a concise response: “I'm sorry, I cannot provide the answer you seek at this moment.” She concluded the interaction by thanking the reporter and pleading for their conversation to remain unpublished.
Although privately relenting on repayment demands, Gold Medalist's actions and public statements garnered scrutiny. They insisted they harbored no intention of collecting repayment from Kim Sae Ron and framed the notice as a mere “formality.”
On February 16, 2025, a day that coincided with Kim Soo Hyun's birthday, Kim Sae Ron passed away. Subsequent to her demise, Dispatch revisited the repayment dilemma with Gold Medalist. The agency clarified that they had settled the debt on her behalf with the production company behind Bloodhounds, which sought compensation following her DUI scandal. Gold Medalist reiterated their lack of expectation to reclaim the funds from her.
However, Dispatch's reporting hinted that Kim Sae Ron might not have fully grasped this situation. Desperate for funds, she liquidated her car and convertible bonds, amassing approximately $138,000 USD. Conversely, Gold Medalist denied any romantic entanglement between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron, asserting that the shared photograph was a relic from the past and unconnected to the present circumstances.
