The late individual's private life is increasingly being scrutinized.
On the morning of the 25th, Mr. A, a man who is said to be the late Kim Sae-ron's ex-lover, gave an interview with The Fact. He mentioned a 'New York man' as the main culprit who caused the late individual's sudden news and troubled last moments, claiming that Kim Sae-ron and her family had such a lack of communication that their relationship was not smooth during her lifetime.
In particular, Mr. A lamented that even during the late individual's painful and difficult moments in life, the family was not genuinely empathetic, comforting, or a presence they could rely on. He also raised his voice in a tone that suggested the family's claims about issues with Kim Soo-hyun, as stated through Gaseyeon (Garosero Research Institute), were speculation.
Known as a 'genius child actor' and having grown into an excellent performer, Kim Sae-ron faced public outrage in May 2022 after being involved in a drunk driving incident. She bowed her head, posting a handwritten apology stating, 'I caused damage to many people, including nearby merchants, citizens, and those who helped with the recovery due to my erroneous judgment and actions,' but it was difficult to avoid punishment.
Kim Sae-ron entered a period of self-reflection, but also faced backlash for her social media activities. In particular, she stirred up controversy last March after posting a photo where she was affectionately cheek-to-cheek with actor Kim Soo-hyun, which she quickly deleted, causing an online uproar. This incident led her to face even greater criticism, and she bore the brunt of the arrows directed at her.
Eventually, Kim Sae-ron was found collapsed at her home on February 16th. A friend discovered her and reported it, but she ended her short life of 25 years. No signs of foul play or a suicide note were found. Kim Sae-ron made the decision to end her tumultuous 25 years of life on her own.
As a result, the bereaved family fell into great shock and directed their anger toward Kim Soo-hyun. They raised allegations of 'grooming offense' through the YouTube channel Gaseyeon, claiming that Kim Sae-ron had been involved with Kim Soo-hyun since her minor years. Additionally, Kim Soo-hyun's agency sent a letter of demand for damages amounting to 700 million won due to the drunk driving crime of the late Kim Sae-ron, asserting that Kim Soo-hyun had neglected this matter.
In response, Gold Medalist stated that Kim Soo-hyun had dated Kim Sae-ron during the summer of 2019, when she was an adult, through the autumn of 2020, and denied the allegations. They also rebutted claims regarding the letter of demand, stating it was merely left for legal procedures as part of their write-off process related to Kim Sae-ron's drunk driving incident, and added that they had not pressured for repayment.
However, in response to Kim Soo-hyun's rebuttal, the bereaved family has repeatedly retaliated through Gaseyeon. During this process, the private lives of Kim Soo-hyun and the late individual became public for the entire nation. On the 15th, Kim Soo-hyun's representatives voiced their concerns, stating, 'It is inappropriate to publicly debate this in a way that does not align with the efforts of both the mother and the deceased to restore the deceased's honor.'
Nonetheless, the bereaved family emphasized, 'First, we want Kim Soo-hyun to acknowledge the fact that he was in a relationship with Kim Sae-ron since her minor years and to issue an official apology. Second, we request an official apology regarding the press play that Gold Medalist conducted, claiming that they had not dated for the past three years, which was stated just three days ago.'
They also requested, 'Third, we ask for acknowledgment of the contributions Kim Sae-ron made as a founding member of the company and a corresponding apology. Fourth, we hope for an official apology regarding the demand for repayment and the letter sent for 700 million won,' asserting that 'the bereaved family seeks nothing but an official apology from Kim Soo-hyun and the agency.'
As Kim Soo-hyun is a beloved actor both in South Korea and globally, criticism of him has poured in not only domestically but also across various social media platforms and online communities abroad. Consequently, the MBC variety show 'Good Day,' in which Kim Soo-hyun was appearing, had to edit his appearances and ultimately suspend its broadcast due to the situation. Additionally, the release schedule of his upcoming Disney+ series 'Knock Off,' which was nearing filming completion, has faced a total halt.
In a situation where the remaining individuals are predicting legal disputes over the various allegations surrounding Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron's past, the late individual's ex-lover has presented a viewpoint that is entirely different from that of the bereaved family. However, during this process, photos have been revealed showing that Kim Sae-ron reportedly received abusive language from a 'New York man' during her lifetime and ultimately resorted to self-harm, which has made many feel even more sorrowful.
Kim Sae-ron's side has already decided to conduct a digital forensic examination of the late individual's cell phone to gather evidence supporting the allegations of Kim Soo-hyun's involvement with a minor. Furthermore, there are rampant claims by YouTubers stating that the late individual was married during her lifetime in the United States and suffered from miscarriage, adding to the growing fatigue over these unverified claims. As the remaining individuals engage in this battle of truth, the late individual's private life continues to be publicly exposed.
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