Actor Kim Soo Hyun is facing mounting public scrutiny after the bereaved family of late actress Kim Sae Ron released what they claim to be proof of a romantic relationship that began while she was still a minor. During a press conference held March 27 in Seocho-gu, Seoul, attorney Bu Ji Seok, representing Kim's family, presented a series of text messages exchanged between the two in 2016-when Kim Sae Ron was 17 years old.
"If this was not a romantic relationship, then what kind of relationship was it? I want to ask Kim Soo Hyun directly," Bu stated at the event, as he unveiled messages with language that legal representatives say indicates emotional and physical intimacy.
In the texts dated June 2016, Kim Soo Hyun repeatedly expresses desire for physical closeness:
KSH: "When can I hold you and fall asleep? I think I'd be able to sleep really well then."
KSR: "Yeah, I'll let you do that."
He later hints at sexual expectations with a suggestive line:
KSH: "Will it take about a year?"
KSR: "Hmm. Maybe?"
KSH: "3 years? Ha."
KSR: "I mean, a year is pretty long. But 3?"
KSH: "You think a year is too long? Then in 6 months?"
KSR: "I'll do it when I want to. No promises."
The disclosed messages also contain flirtatious exchanges:
KSR: "[heart emoticon] kissing sound"
KSH: "Do it for real later hehe. Ah, is this not allowed too?"
KSR: "Nah, it isn't. I'll do it."
Kim Soo Hyun has previously denied any relationship with Kim Sae Ron while she was underage. His agency, Gold Medalist, maintains that the two only dated from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020-after she became an adult.
The family stated they initially had no intention of publicizing the relationship but were compelled to respond after YouTuber Lee Jin Ho allegedly spread defamatory information about Kim Sae Ron. "Even after further evidence confirmed their relationship, he has not offered a single apology and is now making another false claim that they only dated after she became an adult," Bu said.
The press conference also included a handwritten letter believed to be from Kim Sae Ron to Kim Soo Hyun, expressing regret and a longing for reconciliation:
"You were my first and last love. Because you're important to me in that way, I don't want you to avoid me. When I think that you want nothing to do with me, it feels like all the time that we spent together was for nothing."
In the letter, she mentions her former management company, stating, "I'm scared of the people at Gold Medalist. I find them uncomfortable. I can't seem to get in touch with anyone now that I've left the company."
Attorney Bu clarified that the press conference was not meant to speculate on the cause of Kim Sae Ron's death. "This is not an event intended to disclose the reason why the late Kim Sae Ron took her own life," he said. "What Kim Sae Ron's family wishes first and foremost as of now is to pursue legal action against YouTuber Lee Jin Ho and to correct the lies and misinformation."
The family's legal team said they will not engage in further public dispute following the conference but emphasized that the disclosures were intended to halt speculation and restore the late actress's dignity.
Attendees at the press conference included members of the YouTube channel HoverLab, who announced that additional photo and video evidence related to the case would be presented during a live broadcast later that evening.
