Kim Soo Hyun accused of buying online support following underage dating allegations

On Friday, South Korean broadcaster KNN News, as cited by Dimsum Daily, reported a sudden and suspicious surge in supportive comments about Kim across social media platforms and fan communities.

Many of the messages emphasized the actor’s emotional struggles and mental distress, while others praised his past charitable work. KNN News pointed out that numerous posts shared nearly identical wording, suggesting a coordinated effort to generate sympathy for Kim Soo Hyun. Meanwhile, entertainment site Koreaboo published screenshots showing identical articles promoting the actor circulating on multiple online forums.

The timing and volume of the posts have raised concerns about artificial promotion, with some users speculating they were financially motivated, leading to backlash against Kim Soo Hyun and his agency.

South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun. Photo from Instagram

The controversy over Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron’s alleged relationship began when Hoverlab aired an interview on March 10 with the woman claiming to be the late actress’ aunt. She alleged that the two artists had been romantically involved for six years, beginning when Kim Sae Ron was 15.

Kim Sae Ron’s family later claimed that Kim Soo Hyun pressured the actress to repay 700 million won (US$481,626), a financial strain they say contributed to her struggles before her death at age 25. The disputed sum was allegedly provided by Kim Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist to help Kim Sae Ron manage the fallout from her 2022 DUI incident, which severely impacted her career.

Gold Medalist has denied the allegations of underage dating, stating that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron were only romantically involved between the summer of 2019—when she legally became an adult—and the autumn of 2020.

Still, the controversy has had significant repercussions for Kim Soo Hyun, leading to a decline in his public image, the loss of major brand endorsements, and a sharp drop in social media followers. The actor has also reportedly lost his title as South Korea’s highest-paid actor amid the scandal.

At 37, Kim Soo Hyun is one of South Korea’s most prominent actors, rising to international fame through hit dramas such as "Dream High," "The Moon Embracing the Sun," "My Love from the Star," "It’s Okay to Not Be Okay," and "Queen of Tears."

Kim Sae Ron was found dead in her Seoul home on Feb. 16, with authorities ruling out foul play. Her funeral was held on Feb. 19.

She gained global recognition as the youngest South Korean actress to attend the Cannes Film Festival for her role in the 2009 film "A Brand New Life" and was the youngest nominee for Best Actress at South Korea’s prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards. However, her career declined after her 2022 DUI incident, which led to the cancellation of multiple acting roles and endorsement deals.