Kim Soo-hyun may be exonerated from controversy surrounding the late actress Kim Sae-ron's death, as new testimony has emerged from a man claiming to be her ex-boyfriend.
According to a March 25 report by The Fact, the man identified as K, who says he dated Kim Sae-ron, disclosed details of her final days and submitted a written statement confirming his claims. K provided text messages exchanged with Kim and messages from the man she reportedly married. He also shared a photograph showing a wound on her neck allegedly caused by self-harm.
K stated that Kim Sae-ron's death had "nothing to do with Kim Soo-hyun," and that his motivation for speaking out was to "reveal the truth obscured by false narratives" and to "bring peace to Sae-ron's spirit."
"₩700 Million Debt Dispute Was Just Formal Procedure"
Regarding the controversy over a ₩700 million reimbursement request from her former agency Gold Medalist, K asserted that it was merely "a procedural move by the agency" and that Kim Sae-ron herself "didn't feel any burden to repay the money."
He also confirmed speculation that Kim Sae-ron got married before her death. In text messages shared with K, the late actress reportedly admitted to entering a new relationship while still dating K, eventually marrying the new partner. However, she soon suffered emotional and physical abuse from her husband and later reconnected with K.
"Family Showed No Concern, Even During a Suicide Attempt"
K was critical of Kim Sae-ron's family, suggesting their neglect played a significant role in her mental health struggles. He pointed to an incident on November 1, 2024, when Kim reportedly attempted suicide by cutting her wrist. The injury was serious enough to sever a tendon, requiring emergency surgery. Yet, according to K, no family members visited her in the hospital. Instead, he stayed by her side, and a former agency staff member paid the medical bills.
After her discharge, K recalled that her mother showed no emotional reaction upon seeing her daughter's condition. He added that Kim's mother and her boyfriend were calmly eating together at home, and he had witnessed them on dates four to five times.
K claimed that Kim frequently said she was "tired of her family" and "wanted to escape from them."
"Dragging Kim Soo-hyun Into This Is Forced and Unjustified"
K pushed back against the current narrative that Kim Soo-hyun was somehow involved in Kim Sae-ron's death, calling it "forced." He said the renewed focus on her past relationship with the actor seemed driven by "other motives."
"How could her family not know she was married?" he asked, arguing that the family's apparent ignorance reflected a lack of communication with the actress. "They showed little interest in her life, yet now they're bringing up a past relationship with a famous actor. Unless there's another motive, this doesn't make sense."
To bolster the credibility of his testimony, K provided his real name, national ID number, and a fingerprint on his written statement. He also recorded an audio file detailing Kim Sae-ron's emergency hospital visit and shared a voice recording in which Kim told an acquaintance, "My arm ligaments and tendons are all torn. It's bad enough that I need surgery, but insurance doesn't cover it. I need ₩5 million."
K's testimony and evidence suggest Kim Sae-ron had little family support during her most difficult times, instead relying on friends in emergencies.
Buiness Times cannot independently verify these claims.
The Kpop Reporter also contributed to this report.
