On Monday, South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun refuted claims that he had a romantic relationship with actress Kim Sae-ron while she was still a minor, becoming emotional as he stated he could not "acknowledge what is untrue."
In light of the controversy surrounding his connection to Kim Sae-ron, who tragically passed away in February at the age of 24 in an apparent suicide, several brands, including Prada, have severed their associations with him.
The 37-year-old actor clarified that he and Kim Sae-ron were in a relationship for about a year five years ago, but emphasized that it did not occur when she was underage. He criticized a recent YouTube exposé that presented misleading testimonies and evidence, including message screenshots that he asserted could not have originated from the actress.
Kim Sae-ron was born in July 2000, and the legal age of consent in South Korea is 16.
"I did not have a romantic relationship with the deceased while she was a minor. Additionally, it is false to suggest that her tragic decision was a result of my negligence," Kim stated during a press conference on Monday, referencing allegations that their connection contributed to her suicide.
On the same day, lawyers for Kim Soo-hyun and his agency announced they had filed a lawsuit seeking 12 billion won ($8.15 million) in damages against individuals involved in a YouTube exposé. They also reported these individuals to the authorities for defamation and breaches of the information protection act.
A lawyer for the family of Kim Sae-ron was not immediately available for comment.
Kim Sae-ron was recognized as one of the most gifted young actresses in South Korea. She embarked on her acting career at the age of 9, debuting in the 2009 film "A Brand New Life." The subsequent year, she featured in "The Man from Nowhere," which emerged as South Korea's highest-grossing film of 2010, outpacing "Inception" and "Iron Man 2," as reported by Box Office Mojo.
Kim gained recognition for her roles in films such as "I Am a Dad" and "A Girl at My Door," the latter of which was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. On the television front, she appeared in series like "Hi! School: Love On" and "Secret Healer," also referred to as "Mirror of the Witch," and had a role in the Netflix series "Bloodhounds."
In 2022, her acting career faced challenges following a drunk driving incident. At that time, Kim issued an apology on Instagram, expressing regret for her "big mistake in a drunken state," as reported by the Korean entertainment site Soompi.
Kim Soo-hyun gained immense popularity in South Korea and China through his roles in the highly regarded South Korean drama series "My Love from the Star" and "Queen of Tears."
