Actor Kim Soo Hyun is facing renewed scrutiny over the timeline of his relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron, after internet users matched a photo allegedly sent by Kim to the actress with footage from a 2015 broadcast of MBC's Show! Music Core. The findings have intensified public doubts about Kim's claim that the pair only began dating in 2019, when Kim Sae Ron was legally an adult.
The controversy erupted on March 31 after GaroSero Research Institute and former journalist Kim released photos and messages during a livestream following Kim's press conference. One image in particular-a photo of Kim Sae Ron eating-showed her wearing an outfit and hairstyle identical to what she wore during the Music Core episode aired on December 12, 2015, when she was a 15-year-old middle school student and working as an MC.
In KakaoTalk messages allegedly exchanged between the two, Kim Soo Hyun is seen reacting to the image with the comment, "Isn't this seriously too cute?" The photo and conversation have prompted netizens to question whether the relationship began years earlier than the actor has publicly acknowledged.
During his emergency press conference at the Stanford Hotel in Sangam, Seoul, Kim Soo Hyun maintained his position. "The deceased and I dated for about a year, five years ago - four years before Queen of Tears aired," he stated, referring to the drama that premiered in 2024.
However, Kim Sae Ron's family has continued to release images and digital records they say contradict his claims. These include a photo of a man presumed to be Kim Soo Hyun eating soju and dakbokkeumtang with Kim Sae Ron, and another of her sleeping in a bed. Though the identity of the man in the photos has not been officially confirmed, the implication has fueled further speculation online.
Netizens reacted strongly to the emerging visual evidence, with one user commenting, "Sae Ron took and sent that on the day of the live broadcast? Wasn't she only 15 in 2015?" Others added, "Just looking at the pictures, she still looks like a kid," and, "I can't stop cursing..."
Despite the backlash, Kim has escalated his legal response. He filed a criminal defamation complaint against Kim Sae Ron's family, a woman identifying herself as her aunt, and journalist Kim. He is also pursuing a ₩12 billion (approximately $9 million USD) civil lawsuit for damages.
GaroSero claims that the photo's metadata confirms it was taken in 2015, aligning with the outfit and appearance seen on Music Core. Public sentiment has grown more critical following the exposure, with many users on Korean platforms demanding accountability. "She was a minor and you were already a grown man," wrote one commenter. "You expect people to believe this all started in 2019?"
