South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has publicly and emotionally denied claims that he dated late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor, saying the ongoing allegations are built on false evidence and manipulated conversations.
Speaking at a press conference on March 31, Soo-hyun expressed remorse for the emotional pain the controversy has caused—not just to himself but to others, including the late actress.
“I never dated Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor,” he stated firmly, clarifying that their relationship was like any normal adult couple and began years after she had come of age. He also acknowledged that during the airing of Queen of Tears, he denied their previous relationship to protect the project and everyone involved.
“I accept criticism that I was selfish or cowardly,” Soo-hyun said, but stressed he would not take blame for something he didn’t do. “If I admit to something false just to escape this, I’d be betraying everyone who believes in me.”
Soo-hyun also pushed back against claims that Sae-ron’s tragic death was linked to pressure from him or his agency over her debt. He disclosed a phone call recording between representatives from both agencies, which he said disproves the coercion claims. He further alleged that chat logs and recordings provided by Sae-ron’s family had inconsistencies and were manipulated.
“The chats from 2016 and 2018 appear to have been written by different people,” he claimed, citing a forensic analysis of the messages.
Soo-hyun added that while he’s open to criticism over past actions, he draws the line at accepting fabricated accusations. “I won’t ask for your trust,” he said, “but I will prove the truth.”