Hoverlab, also known as Garo Sero Research Institute, has presented further evidence suggesting that Kim Soo Hyun was in a relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron when she was underage.
The controversy arose when Hoverlab alleged that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron had been dating for six years since she was 15 years old. They also claimed that Kim Soo Hyun and his management company, Gold Medalist, had unfairly pressured Kim Sae Ron to repay a debt by sending her certified letters. According to Hoverlab, Kim Sae Ron tried to contact Kim Soo Hyun but was ignored, leading her to use her cousin's phone number to reach out. Unfortunately, the number was leaked to the press, which led her to post a photo with Kim Soo Hyun in 2024 in an attempt to get a response.
On April 2, Hoverlab revealed KakaoTalk messages between Kim Sae Ron and her cousin. In the conversation, the cousin informed Kim Sae Ron about reporters calling and advised her not to pick up.
In a conversation with her cousin, Kim Sae Ron disclosed that she had been in a relationship with Kim Soo Hyun from November 2015 to July 2021.
Kim Sae Ron later issued a statement refuting Gold Medalist's claim that there was no romantic involvement between her and Kim Soo Hyun. In contrast to the agency's denial, Kim Sae Ron's message to her cousin portrayed a different narrative.
Kim Sae Ron confessed that she was 16 years old at the time of the relationship, while the other party was 30 years old, leading to the end of their six-year connection. She mentioned discrepancies in her contract renewal process with Gold Medalist and expressed disappointment over the lack of fair compensation for her work.
The release of this information by Hoverlab has incited a shift in public sentiment among Korean netizens, with many expressing sympathy for Kim Sae Ron and questioning Kim Soo Hyun's response to the revelations.
The interactions between Kim Sae Ron and her cousin, as well as the statements made by both parties, shed light on the complexities surrounding the situation and highlight the need for transparency in such matters.