The family of the late Kim Sae-ron expressed disappointment after verifying Gold Medalist's statement regarding Kim Soo-hyun, saying they only wished for an apology. On the 18th, they announced that they have decided to conduct a forensic examination of the photos taken in the past of Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun. A representative of Kim Sae-ron's family informed Hankyung.com that they are planning to digitally forensically analyze photos proving that Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun were in a relationship when she was a minor. Additionally, they will release a video taken during the time when Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were lovers through the YouTube channel 'Garo-Sero Research Institute' (Gaser Yeon).
Kwon Young-chan, the head of the Korea Suicide Prevention Association, mentioned that Kim Sae-ron tried to protect Kim Soo-hyun until the very end and even considered the need for forensic examination by thinking, "What should I do if something like this happens later on?" Kim Sae-ron's family claimed that Kim Soo-hyun's side suggested switching from KakaoTalk to Telegram and criticized that it was not Kim Soo-hyun himself but an employee who visited the deceased's funeral altar when condolence wreaths were sent.
Kim Soo-hyun came under scrutiny on the 10th after Gaser Yeon cited a conversation with Kim Sae-ron's family, claiming that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron for 6 years starting when she was just 15 years old in 2015. Subsequently, both sides publicly released photos and text messages of the two. Kim Soo-hyun's agency refuted the claims stating that the relationship did not begin during Kim Sae-ron's minor years but from the summer of 2019 when she turned into an adult up until the fall of 2020.
The dispute between the two parties continued as Kim Sae-ron's family stated that Kim Soo-hyun was urged on for debt repayment through a proof of content sent twice, labeling it as essentially coercion. Gold Medalist, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, denied ever claiming damages from Kim Sae-ron and clarified that the second proof of content was just a legal procedure explanation and an indication of willingness to discuss repayment methods and schedules.