South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun has found himself under the scanner once again, after another photo of him with late actress Kim Sae Ron was posted online. The Queen of Tears star has been facing intense scrutiny ever since the cover on his romantic relationship with Sae Ron was blown after her tragic death by suicide in February 2025. Days after her death, a huge controversy erupted with fans and other sites raising all kinds of allegations against him, including allegations of a romantic relationship with Sea Ron while she was a minor. This prompted Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, to issue a statement clarifying that the two were in a relationship between 2019 and 2020, refuting earlier claims that they had been romantically involved when Sae Ron was just 15 years old and Soo Hyun was 27.On March 14, the actor, through his agency released a statement addressing the allegations, and calling out alleged ‘false’ narratives being posted online. However, on March 14, the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute released another unseen photo of the two actors during a livestream. In the image, the actor is seen cosily posing with Sae Ron, wearing a black hat and a jacket. The hat quickly became a focal point for netizens, who pointed out that Soo Hyun had worn the same hat on multiple occasions. According to a report by Koreaboo, the actor was photographed wearing the hat at various events from 2015 to 2017, raising suspicions about the timeline of their relationship.The resurfaced image has intensified speculation, as it appears to align with claims made by Sae Ron’s aunt, who previously alleged that the two had been involved earlier than Soo Hyun’s agency admitted.Adding to the controversy, an attorney appeared on YTN’s News Square 2 PM to discuss the legal implications of the alleged relationship. The attorney explained, “The laws regarding sexual offences against minors were revised in May of 2020. According to the revisions, if an adult engages in physical intimacy or sexual relations with a minor under the age of 16, regardless of consent, it may be deemed statutory rape or molestation.”However, the attorney further clarified, “Before the 2020 revision, the law only applied to minors under the age of 13. This means that in 2015, when Kim Sae Ron was 15 years old, the previous law was still in effect.”Meanwhile, news reports have also urged caution while reporting and reacting to these allegations against actor Kim Soo Hyun, especially after the tragic events of 2024, which saw actor Lee Sun Gyuk taking his life amidst intense media scrutiny and public backlash.
Kim Soo Hyun under scanner after NEW photo with Kim Sae Ron leaks online; actor could face criminal charges for a sexual offense with a minor |
