According to Garosero Research Institute (HoverLab), on March 27, there was the revelation of indirect information regarding actor Kim Soo Hyun’s alleged former girlfriends, who were members of girl groups and central figures. This information emerged from a conversation between a friend of the late Kim Sae Ron and Lee Jin Ho the day before.
The Institute presented KakaoTalk messages exchanged between Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun from June 22 to June 26, 2016, indicating signs of a romantic relationship. This contradicted Kim Soo Hyun's statement that he did not date Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor.
Additionally, a video was disclosed showing Kim Soo Hyun filming a mannequin in underwear in Paris and sending it to Kim Sae Ron. The Institute deemed this video inappropriate for a minor.
Reports suggested that Kim Sae Ron affirmed her relationship with Kim Soo Hyun as genuine, but faced online backlash after posting an old photo of them with their cheeks touching. The friendship expressed concern, noting that Kim Sae Ron dated Kim Soo Hyun for six years while underage and criticized her former agency, Gold Medalist, for demanding the immediate repayment of 700 million KRW, deeming it excessive.
On March 26, 2024, Kim Sae Ron allegedly expressed her desire to die following a self-harm incident. Messages revealed her distress over her former agency’s demand for 700 million KRW repayment, mentioning deceptive practices and lack of support from Kim Soo Hyun.
The Institute countered allegations made in Lee Jin Ho’s recording regarding Kim Sae Ron’s family, presenting KakaoTalk messages showcasing a loving relationship between Kim Sae Ron and her relatives. They further disclosed Kim Sae Ron’s actions after receiving repayment demands, including an unsuccessful attempt to reach out to Kim Soo Hyun.
It was also revealed that Kim Sae Ron wrote a letter to ASTRO’s Moonbin after his suicide, expressing her struggles and contemplating suicide herself. The Institute criticized the release of Kim Sae Ron's messages by Kim Soo Hyun to Dispatch as morally questionable.
Moreover, phone recordings were shared featuring conversations between Kim Sae Ron’s mother, acquaintances, and Go Song Ah, the head of her new agency Run Entertainment. These recordings confirmed financial support from Go Song Ah for Kim Sae Ron's medical expenses following her self-harm incident.
Garosero Research Institute concluded that Kim Sae Ron's death on February 16, 2025, coinciding with Kim Soo Hyun's birthday, resulted from pressure from Dispatch, Kim Soo Hyun, and Gold Medalist. They criticized Kim Soo Hyun for his social media post on his birthday, suggesting insensitivity.