The debate on the alleged relationship between the late Kim Sae Ron and actor Kim Soo Hyun during Kim Sae Ron's youth continues with new information surfacing.
On April 9, YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, known from 'Entertainment King Lee Jin Ho' channel, shared a video entitled "Kim Sae Ron's Ex-Boyfriend's Truth. Unveiling the Real Story of Kim Soo Hyun's 6-Year Relationship!" Lee disclosed that Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun were supposedly dating other people during the time in 2019 when Kim Sae Ron had claimed they were together, sparking controversy.
In his video, Lee Jin Ho revealed his findings on Kim Sae Ron's romantic relationships from 2016 until she became an adult. He mentioned that Kim Sae Ron, recognized for her friendly demeanor, had relationships with various individuals including actors, athletes, businessmen, singers, idols, and even an American spouse. Lee Jin Ho revealed that in 2016, Kim Sae Ron was reportedly dating someone other than Kim Soo Hyun, focusing his investigation on two specific individuals connected to her during that period.
Lee Jin Ho explained that although Kim Sae Ron had referred to these individuals as her boyfriends, it was later discovered that she was not actually involved with them. He highlighted that there were contradictions between her claims and concrete evidence.
Lee also discussed Kim Soo Hyun's relationships, stating that the actor had been in a relationship with someone else from 2016 until the final years of his military service in 2019, which lasted nearly three years and was known by close acquaintances.
During the controversy related to the 2018 'Dak-bokkeum-tang' incident, Kim Soo Hyun was reportedly in this relationship, which Kim Sae Ron was aware of. At that time, the two were simply close friends who occasionally met with their families.
Lee Jin Ho mentioned that during her relationship with singer 'A,' Kim Sae Ron sent a coffee truck anonymously. He claimed that both Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun were involved in separate relationships during the speculated period of their connection, presenting evidence such as images and videos showing Kim Sae Ron with her boyfriend near Nonhyeon and Eonju subway stations, suggesting a different narrative from what was initially believed.
Lee Jin Ho raised the possibility that Kim Sae Ron may have fabricated details about her relationships, mentioning a message in which she claimed to have been with Kim Soo Hyun from November 19, 2015, to July 7, 2021, which was contradicted by digital evidence proving the timeline of a posted photo.
The video stirred public debate, prompting calls for thorough investigations to ascertain the truth. In response to the accusations, Kim Soo Hyun held a press conference denying the alleged relationship with Kim Sae Ron during her minor years and filed a lawsuit against Kim Sae Ron’s family and the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute for defamation, seeking compensation.
Conversely, Kim Sae Ron's family filed a lawsuit against YouTuber Lee Jin Ho on charges of defamation and privacy violation under the Information and Communication Network Act and the Stalking Punishment Act, asserting that he manipulated information about Kim Sae Ron's relationship with Kim Soo Hyun. Legal actions have led to the suspension of Lee Jin Ho’s broadcasts related to Kim Sae Ron or her family.