Why Did Kim Soo-hyun Hide His Relationship with the Late Actress Kim Sae-ron?

 

A year ago, actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron’s dating rumors were dismissed as “groundless.” While Kim Sae-ron initially bore the brunt of public criticism, new revelations suggest the full story was far more complex.

On March 14, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, released an urgent statement acknowledging that he and Kim Sae-ron had dated from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020. An exclusive report by OSEN further revealed why the agency had initially denied the rumors, stating, “Both are public figures, and it was practically impossible to acknowledge a breakup from four years ago.”

Back Then: "Groundless"

Dating rumors between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron first surfaced in March last year when Kim Sae-ron uploaded a photo of them together on her personal social media. The image was deleted within seconds, but not before spreading rapidly online, reigniting speculation about their relationship.

In the photo, the two appeared unmistakably close—Kim Sae-ron winked at the camera while Kim Soo-hyun pressed his cheek against hers, exuding an intimate atmosphere. Their evident closeness fueled public speculation that they had once been romantically involved.

However, Gold Medalist issued a firm denial at the time, stating, “The rumors are completely groundless.” This response seemingly put an end to the controversy, turning Kim Sae-ron’s brief upload into a bizarre and unexplained incident. Coupled with the public backlash over her DUI case, Kim Sae-ron faced accusations of attempting to fabricate dating rumors during her period of self-reflection.

Now: "It’s True"

However, on March 14, Gold Medalist reversed its stance, admitting that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron had indeed dated. The agency clarified that their relationship took place between mid-2019 and late 2020—after Kim Sae-ron became a legal adult.

This statement appears to be a direct counter to Garo Sero Institute (GaSeYeon), which had recently accused Kim Soo-hyun of engaging in a "grooming relationship" with Kim Sae-ron when she was still a minor. The abrupt change in narrative has raised suspicions, with some viewing it as a strategic move rather than a genuine clarification.

Who Was Lying?

Gold Medalist confirmed to OSEN that it had deliberately concealed the past relationship. “When the dating rumors first surfaced last year, they had already been broken up for four years,” a representative explained. “Given their celebrity status, it was nearly impossible to acknowledge a breakup from so long ago.”

Despite this explanation, public skepticism remains high. The agency has been careful with its wording, seemingly to avoid further controversy, but the initial denial continues to haunt them.

Meanwhile, GaSeYeon has aggressively continued its accusations against Kim Soo-hyun, attempting to manipulate statements to fuel further speculation. For example, when Gold Medalist stated that a particular photo of Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron was taken in “early winter 2020,” GaSeYeon twisted the wording, arguing that it contradicted the claim that they had broken up in the fall of that year.

However, public distrust toward Kim Soo-hyun has grown primarily due to his initial false denial. By calling the rumors “groundless” a year ago, his agency effectively lied, making it difficult for the public to trust their latest statements.

As the controversy escalates, GaSeYeon continues leveraging testimonies from Kim Sae-ron’s family to further its claims, while Gold Medalist maintains its stance that the allegations amount to defamation and has vowed legal action. With both sides refusing to back down, the battle over truth and misinformation continues to fuel public confusion.