Actor Kim Soo-hyun has once again been embroiled in controversy. The bereaved family of the late Kim Sae-ron has reiterated their accusations of a "relationship with a minor," prompting heated debate.
On Sept. 19, one media outlet pointed out that the settlement payments Gold Medalist distributed to actors over the past five years amounted to only 670 million won, calling it excessively low compared with the period when the tvN drama "Queen of Tears" surpassed 20 billion won in revenue. Reports also emerged alleging that the registered address of the largest shareholder, "Barun No. 2 Investment Association," was unclear, adding to suspicions that the company's management structure was not transparent. In response, the agency immediately said the distribution amount is structured as part of cost of sales in accounting and therefore poses no problem, and it countered that it is common for investment associations not to maintain separate offices due to their nature.
But public opinion remains divided. Some reacted, "Kim Soo-hyun, after privacy controversies now company issues too... he really has no respite," while others said, "It is true the settlement structure is hard to accept; it needs to be disclosed clearly." At the same time, many defended him, saying, "The media is sensationalizing this," and "They say the legal team finished its review — aren't these just wild guesses that only grow in size?"
Amid these circumstances, the controversy related to the late Kim Sae-ron flared up again about 10 days later. On Sept. 29, Kim Soo-hyun's legal representative, lawyer Ko Sang-rok, dismissed the bereaved family's claim on his YouTube channel that "the deceased had been in a relationship for six years since middle school" as "a falsehood with no factual basis." He said the "skinship photos" released by the bereaved family were all taken from late 2019 to spring 2020, that is, after the deceased had already reached adulthood, and emphasized, "The actual dating period was from the summer of 2019, when she was an adult, until the following spring."
The lawyer also released Kim Soo-hyun's diary and letters from his military service period, saying, "At that time the actor exchanged about 150 records with his actual partner. The letters sent to the deceased were closer to writings about military life and resolve than correspondence between lovers." He strongly rebutted the draft statement that sparked the controversy, saying it contained clear falsehoods, such as distorting the deceased's age by noting, "I was 16, he was 30."
Ultimately, this controversy has become a double burden for Kim Soo-hyun, overlapping his private life issues and his agency's settlement problems. Reactions among fans and internet users are also split. Some demand that "the truth be clarified as soon as possible," while others express fatigue, saying, "The more this is dredged up, the more it merely aggravates the wound."
Above all, as time drags on, there is cautious speculation that it will only become harder for Kim Soo-hyun to restore his image. With privacy allegations, management controversies at his agency and ongoing legal battles, public attention remains fixed on when the noise surrounding Kim Soo-hyun will finally subside.
[Photo] OSEN DB
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