Newly released private messages between the late actress Kim Sae-ron and her former manager have reignited public attention amid a flurry of legal actions involving her family, YouTube personality Kim Se-eui, and actor Kim Soo-hyun. The messages, disclosed by reporter Kang Kyung-yoon, surfaced just as Kim Sae-ron's former manager filed a defamation lawsuit against YouTuber Kwon Young-chan, who had accused the manager of embezzlement and grooming.
The KakaoTalk messages reveal an emotionally close and supportive relationship between Kim Sae-ron and her former manager, who often referred to her as "daughter" and helped manage both her personal and professional affairs. "Daughter, did you get home ok? There's no schedule tomorrow, so rest up and save your energy," the manager wrote in one exchange. Kim responded, "Yes hwaiting!"
The manager also helped cover personal expenses, such as a food waste disposer fee, and accompanied her to the hospital following a suicide attempt. "I can't after what happened recently. My parents can't know," Kim wrote, to which the manager replied, "I will be there in 20 minutes. Let's go."
The text messages suggested that the manager was more involved in Kim's day-to-day life than her family. One exchange revealed frustrations over her mother posting on Kim's Instagram account. "My mom took meds and posted something on my Instagram while I slept," Kim said.
These conversations went viral online, amassing over 110,000 views. Some commenters speculated that the leak was retaliation for the lawsuit the manager filed against Kwon Young-chan.
Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun filed a criminal complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office against Kim Se-eui, who operates the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon), and against Kim Sae-ron's family. According to LKB & Partners, representing Kim Soo-hyun, "Kim Se-eui and the family of Kim Sae-ron went beyond spreading false information based on forged recording files and have sued Kim Soo-hyun for violating the Child Welfare Act and other charges."
LKB emphasized the seriousness of the accusations, adding, "Fabricating evidence is a serious crime, but filing a criminal complaint based on forged evidence is an even more serious crime." Kim Soo-hyun has also filed a separate defamation suit under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, seeking damages totaling 12 billion won.
Kim Se-eui previously alleged at a press conference that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with Kim Sae-ron since she was in middle school and that attempts were made to retrieve incriminating recordings for 4 billion won. He also claimed hitmen were dispatched after the informant rejected the offer.
Photos, letters, and messages allegedly substantiating the underage dating claims were reportedly provided by Kim Sae-ron's family to Gaseyeon. The dispute has escalated into a public feud between Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, and the YouTube channel over the authenticity of the evidence.
At a press conference on March 31, Kim Soo-hyun denied all allegations. "I did not date the deceased when she was a minor," he stated. "It is also not true that the agency pressured the deceased regarding her debt, leading to her tragic choice."
