South Korean police investigate defamation claims involving actor Kim Soo Hyun and late actress Kim Sae Ron

Park Hyun Soo, acting chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said at a press briefing that a complaint involving Kim Soo Hyun was filed on March 20 at Gangnam Police Station, as reported by Dimsum Daily.

Authorities are currently conducting interviews and further inquiries.

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, filed a criminal complaint against Hoverlab operator Kim Se Ui and an unnamed individual claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt, accusing them of distributing private photos of the actor in violation of South Korea’s sexual crimes law.

South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun. Photo from X

Meanwhile, Kim Sae Ron’s family, represented by lawyer Bu Ji Seok, filed a defamation complaint against Lee Jin Ho.

The YouTuber had posted videos denying a rumored relationship between the two actors, which allegedly triggered widespread online abuse toward Kim Sae Ron and contributed to her death, according to Pink Villa.

Lee has since deleted the videos from his channel following her passing.

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.

South Korean actress Kim Sae Ron. Photo from Facebook

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.