Actor Kim Soo-hyun has been embroiled in the so-called 'grooming allegation' after it was claimed that he had been in a relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron since she was a minor. The project he is in, 'Knock-Off,' has been hit hard.
After Kim Sae-ron's death, the YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute' (hereinafter referred to as Gaseyeon) and her family claimed that Kim Soo-hyun was involved in the circumstances surrounding her death. They alleged that Kim Sae-ron dated Kim Soo-hyun from 2015, when she was a minor, until 2021, and claimed that despite facing financial difficulties after she ceased her activities following a drunk driving accident in 2022, he pressured her to repay the 700 million won borrowed to cover the accident.
Kim Soo-hyun's side has announced that it will issue an official statement based on clear evidence but later noted that he has shown signs of acute psychological instability and that he did not date Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. They refuted claims that they had demanded repayment of the entire claim against Kim Sae-ron after writing it off as a bad debt.
With the revelations from 'Gaseyeon,' Kim Soo-hyun's rebuttal, and the family's counter-rebuttal, public sentiment towards Kim Soo-hyun, who is embroiled in the 'grooming allegation,' has turned increasingly negative. In particular, the advertising industry has reacted by deleting and making private his photos and videos, which clearly shows the seriousness of the situation.
The controversy has also affected Kim Soo-hyun's upcoming projects. He was in the midst of filming 'Knock-Off' for Disney+ and was appearing on the MBC variety show 'Good Day.' After proceeding with Kim Soo-hyun's recording on the 13th, the show encountered negative public sentiment and apologized, stating, "We sincerely apologize for any concern we may have caused." Furthermore, 'Good Day' stated, "As long as the controversy surrounding the cast member continues, the purpose of 'Good Day,' which started with good intentions, as well as the feelings of the cast members who sincerely participated, and the love from viewers who empathized and supported will continue to be damaged. The content released after the 5th episode is from footage recorded on February 18, and it is planned to be developed over the next 6 to 7 episodes. The production team has decided to edit out parts featuring Kim Soo-hyun as much as possible, and the individual recording of the cast member on March 13 will not be aired."
So what is the position of the 'Knock-Off' side? Previously, they stated that they are proceeding with the filming of season 2 as scheduled and are preparing for a production presentation next month. However, as the controversy surrounding Kim Soo-hyun grows, predictions are emerging that there could be a worst-case scenario where his attendance at the production presentation becomes uncertain, and scheduling cancellations may need to be considered. Additionally, it appears that the corporations that sponsored the production of 'Knock-Off' may suffer losses from this controversy. 'Knock-Off' expressed that they have "nothing to say" regarding changes to the release date.
Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun's side stated, "After losing Ms. Kim Sae-ron, her mother has been experiencing indescribable pain, and I believe that using any words to offer comfort would be inadequate. I feel deep sorrow for the pains that the deceased had to endure and extend my condolences. However, it seems that some of the claims made by her mother differ from our thoughts. I also think there are matters that she may not have been aware of. I consider it inappropriate to publicly debate this in a way that would disrespect the dignity of both the mother, who sought any means to restore her daughter's honor, and the deceased. Our management would like to meet with her to provide a full explanation. Please feel free to contact the Gold Medalist office at any time."
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