The family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron has filed a formal complaint against actor Kim Soo-hyun, accusing him of violating South Korea’s Child Welfare Act and making false statements. The complaint was submitted to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on May 7, as announced by the family’s legal counsel Bu Ji-seok during a press conference.
At the event, the family presented what they claimed was an audio recording of Kim Sae-ron recounting a past relationship with Kim Soo-hyun that allegedly began when she was in middle school and lasted six years. The recording was voiced-over to protect identities, and was submitted as evidence.
Kim Soo-hyun, through his agency Gold Medalist, has vehemently denied the accusations, calling the recording “fabricated” and suggesting it may have been created using artificial intelligence. The agency announced plans to pursue legal action for defamation, labeling the claims as a targeted attack meant to tarnish the actor’s reputation.
This complaint follows Soo-hyun’s own legal offensive—he has filed multiple stalking and defamation lawsuits against Kim Se-ui, the YouTuber behind the Hoverlab channel who originally publicized the underage dating allegations, as well as against Sae-ron’s family. He is also seeking ₩12 billion (roughly $8.14 million) in damages related to the case.