Fresh evidence raises speculation about the timeline of actor Kim Soo Hyun's relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron, possibly dating back to 2015 rather than 2019 as he initially stated.

After Kim Soo Hyun's press conference, former journalist Kim conducted a live stream unveiling photos contradicting the actor's claims. One photo showed Kim Sae Ron eating, resembling her appearance from a December 12, 2015 broadcast of MBC’s Show! Music Core when she was an MC. Viewers noticed the resemblance, suggesting the photos were taken the same day. In reconstructed KakaoTalk messages, Kim Soo Hyun is seen commenting on the food photo, "Isn't this seriously too cute?"

A crucial point of debate is the timeline. Kim Sae Ron was a middle school student at the time, raising concerns about her age and the credibility of Kim Soo Hyun's assertion that their relationship started in 2019 and ended in 2020.

Despite mounting doubts, Kim Soo Hyun reiterated his version of events at the press conference, stating firmly that he and the late Kim dated about five years ago for a year, four years before the airing of "Queen of Tears."

On the other hand, Kim Sae Ron's family released photos and messages challenging Kim's account. These include photos of Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron eating together and of her sleeping in a bed.

Amid this controversy, Kim Soo Hyun has taken legal action, filing a criminal complaint for defamation against Kim's family, a woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron's aunt, and journalist Kim. He also initiated a civil lawsuit seeking damages of ₩12 billion (approximately $9 million USD).