12th March 2025 – (Seoul) South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron was confirmed to have died by suicide at her home on 16th February, aged 24. Recent disclosures by an individual claiming to be a family member on a YouTube channel revealed that Kim had been in a secret relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun, who is 12 years her senior, for six years since she was 15. This revelation has sparked widespread attention online.

Kim Sae-ron reportedly posted a photo on Instagram showing her cheek-to-cheek with Kim Soo-hyun, but quickly removed it. Following this, she joined the management company founded by Kim Soo-hyun, working without pay. In 2022, after Kim faced severe repercussions from a DUI incident, Kim Soo-hyun reportedly paid 700 million Korean won to settle her compensation claims without expecting repayment. However, in 2024, Kim Sae-ron received a loan notice demanding the return of the funds.

This morning, a third intimate photo of the pair was leaked. Despite efforts from Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, to refute the allegations, “Garo Sero Research” released intimate images of the couple during a live stream on 11 March, claiming to possess over a hundred related photographs and stating they would continue to pursue the matter until Kim Soo-hyun publicly apologised. Additionally, a prominent fan page with 460,000 followers announced it would unfollow Kim Soo-hyun, posting a farewell message that read, “Goodbye to the actor I once admired!”