Cultural critic Kim Gap-soo appeared on 'Maeul Show' and commented that the allegations of a romantic relationship between actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron during her adolescence were due to "personal characteristics," drawing criticism. As the controversy escalated, 'Maeul Show' ultimately decided to issue an official apology and permanently abolish the segment in which Kim Gap-soo appeared.

On the 17th, during the broadcast of the YouTube channel 'Maeul Show,' Kim Gap-soo appeared in the segment 'Midday Maeul Controversy' and opened up about the allegations of a romantic relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun during the late Kim Sae-ron's teenage years, as claimed by her family.

That day, Kim Gap-soo said, "Seeing this news, it's as if dating a minor has become a huge crime. There can be a significant age difference in relationships, and a woman might be older. There are various forms."

He continued, "But why is it suddenly labeled as a crime involving a minor? Is that logical? It seems they dated at a young age. Since Kim Sae-ron was a child actress, she likely socialized early. She dated a man from the age of 16, and he was said to be 27. I probably would not have seen her as a girlfriend due to my youth. It's just that I never dated an older woman; otherwise, it would have matched. Isn't this a personal characteristic?"

Additionally, Kim Gap-soo remarked, "I'm not sure if Kim Soo-hyun was lying, but considering he tried to deny the dating relationship with Kim Sae-ron, it seems he thought it would negatively impact his image. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing, but he likely lacked the courage to confront the common perceptions of our society regarding this issue. I regret the problem of customs."

After those comments aired, netizens reacted with shock and flooded the online platforms with critical comments, leading 'Maeul Show' to delete the video containing Kim Gap-soo's remarks.

The next day, during the opening of 'Maeul Show,' Choi Wook said, "I apologize for causing a stir yesterday. I sincerely apologize." He added, "In fact, an apology should be specific, but it can also amplify the controversy and potentially hurt someone, so I regret not being able to offer a specific apology."

Choi Wook also stated, "And the controversial segment will be permanently abolished," further saying, "I too will approach broadcasting more cautiously and reflect on my actions. Once again, I sincerely apologize. I am truly sorry."

Meanwhile, the family of the late Kim Sae-ron claimed through the YouTube channel 'Garosearo Research Institute' (abbreviated as 'Gaseyeon') that the deceased dated actor Kim Sae-ron from the age of 15 for six years and alleged that despite experiencing hardship after the deceased's suspension of activities following a drunk driving incident in 2022, they pressured the deceased to repay 700 million won borrowed to resolve the accident.

In response, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, stated it was a "clear falsehood that cannot be overlooked" and noted, "We will consider the strongest legal response possible against the Gaseyeon for spreading false information." However, under the mounting accusations, they changed their statement, acknowledging a dating relationship, stating that the two dated from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after Kim Sae-ron reached adulthood.

Additionally, regarding the notice concerning the repayment of 700 million won, they mentioned, "If we were to arbitrarily impose a penalty on Kim Sae-ron, it could lead to violations of fiduciary duty for the executives who made such decisions, and there was a concern that such expenses would not be recognized as deductible by the company," noting that it was necessary to confirm the efforts made to secure the company's claim against Kim Sae-ron.

However, they emphasized that the notice for the repayment of 700 million won is unrelated to Kim Soo-hyun, asserting, "All issues regarding Kim Sae-ron's debt are matters between Gold Medalist and Kim Sae-ron."

[Photo] OSEN DB, YouTube capture

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