The Tragic Backstory: Exploitation of Kim Sae Ron
1. The Controversial Relationship (2015-2021)
- Underage Dating Allegations: Kim Sae Ron’s aunt revealed in a March 2025 interview that Kim Soo Hyun dated the actress from 2015–2021, starting when she was 15 and he was 27.
- Agency Manipulation: Soo Hyun, a co-founder of Gold Medalist, allegedly pressured Sae Ron to leave her previous agency (YG Entertainment) and sign with his fledgling company.
- Unpaid Labor: Sae Ron worked for free under Gold Medalist, training juniors and taking unfavorable contracts to “support her boyfriend’s business.”
2. The Downfall: DUI Scandal & Abandonment (2022-2025)
- May 2022: Sae Ron’s career crashed after a drunk-driving accident damaged public property, leading to industry blacklisting.
- Financial Ruin: Gold Medalist paid ₩700M ($500K) in damages but later demanded repayment, leaving her in debt.
- Isolation & Suicide: Soo Hyun ignored her pleas for help. Sae Ron died by suicide on February 16, 2025—Soo Hyun’s birthday—a date speculated to be a final message.
3. Explosive Revelations (March 2025)
- Hover Lab Exposé: Leaked texts and photos proved their relationship, including a 2016 image of Soo Hyun kissing a minor Sae Ron.
- Public Outrage: Fans uncovered his history of preferring teenage girls, quoting his creepy statement: “When I’m 50, I’d like my wife to be 20.”
Current Legal Fallout (May 2025 Update)
1. Brand Abandonment & Lawsuits
- Terminated Contracts: Prada, Dinto, Shinhan Bank, and Eider dropped Soo Hyun.
- 4M+inLawsuits∗∗:Fourcompaniessuedfor∗∗breachoftrust∗∗;onedemands∗∗4M+inLawsuits∗∗:Fourcompaniessuedfor∗∗breachoftrust∗∗;onedemands∗∗2M alone.
- Disney+ Crisis: His drama Knock-Off (budget: 41M∗∗)isonhold.Herisksliabilityforhis∗∗41M∗∗)isonhold.Herisksliabilityforhis∗∗800K/episode fee.
2. Legal Battles
- Defamation Case: Soo Hyun sued Hover Lab (March 26) for leaking private photos.
- Police Probe: Investigating grooming allegations from 2015–2021.
3. Divided Public Reaction
- Fan Support: Ranked #3 in Star Ranking’s April poll (11,546 votes).
- Backlash: Hashtags like #KimSooHyunIsOver trend as netizens call him “Korea’s Kevin Spacey.”
Conclusion: A Star’s Legacy Destroyed?
Once a Hallyu icon, Kim Soo Hyun now faces financial ruin and career extinction. With trials pending, this scandal highlights the dark side of celebrity power in South Korea.
It all came down to her unquestioning faith in him. Check out our upcoming blog post about trust difficulties.
