On March 19, 2025, Korean internet users were surprised to learn that the late actress Kim Sae Ron was rumored to have been secretly married and living in New York with her husband prior to her passing.

The shocking information was brought to light by YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, who shared an audio recording involving Kim and an official from her agency.

In the leaked recording, Kim was reportedly heard confessing to marrying her boyfriend after finding out she was pregnant, although she later decided to undergo an abortion. She also mentioned that her boyfriend controlled her social media accounts and pressured her to go public with their marriage.

Lee Jin Ho went on to suggest that Kim's family was aware of the marriage and gave out data from her phone to another YouTube channel. He also claimed that actor Kim Soo Hyun had an influence on Kim's decision to switch to using Telegram for communication.

The leaked recording and Lee's statements triggered strong criticism. Netizens raised doubts about the authenticity of the recording and condemned Lee for sharing sensitive information about Kim after her death, accusing him of exploiting the situation for his own gain.

The online comments expressed public outrage, with individuals questioning the source of the recording and condemning Lee for his actions.

The controversy surrounding the issue has yet to be addressed by Lee Jin Ho and Kim's family, prompting discussions on privacy, media ethics, and the treatment of public figures posthumously.