March 11 - Actor Kim Soo Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, has strongly denied allegations that he was in a romantic relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor. The agency released an official statement dismissing the claims as "blatantly false."

On March 10, YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Research Institute' alleged that Kim Soo Hyun had begun dating Kim Sae Ron when she was 15 and he was 27. The channel claimed to have obtained a statement from Kim Sae Ron, originally meant for social media, through her bereaved family. According to the alleged statement, Kim Sae Ron stated that she and Kim Soo Hyun were in a relationship from November 19, 2015, to July 7, 2021.

However, Gold Medalist has firmly denied these allegations, stating, "The claims that Kim Soo Hyun had a romantic relationship with Kim Sae Ron from the age of 15 are completely false and baseless."

The alleged statement also mentioned that Kim Sae Ron considered joining Kim Soo Hyun's agency during contract renewal discussions. She ultimately signed with Gold Medalist but claimed she was not fairly compensated for her work, which included casting new talents and visual directing. Additionally, she asserted that this agreement involved financial transactions unlike her previous contract renewals. When she later attempted to contact both the agency and Kim Soo Hyun regarding her contract renewal, she allegedly received no response and was later threatened with a notice stating her contract had not been extended.

Kim Sae Ron’s family further stated in an interview with the YouTube channel that she and Kim Soo Hyun had been in a relationship for six years. They also expressed frustration, saying, “After her accident, we believed the agency would help her get back on her feet. But after exploiting her, they discarded her when they no longer needed her."

Gold Medalist Issues Official Response

Gold Medalist issued an official statement addressing these claims, stating, "The YouTube channel accused our agency and Kim Soo Hyun of colluding with YouTuber A to harass the late Kim Sae Ron. They also falsely alleged that Kim Sae Ron had been in a relationship with Kim Soo Hyun from the age of 15 and that our agency handled her drunk driving incident inappropriately. These claims are entirely false and cannot be ignored."

The agency further announced plans for legal action, stating, "We are considering the strongest possible legal measures against the spread of such false information."

Gold Medalist also condemned the actions of the YouTube channel, stating, "These baseless rumors mirror the cyber harassment that the late Kim Sae Ron suffered from during her lifetime. It is unacceptable that some individuals are exploiting her passing for personal gain, damaging both our agency and the late actress’s honor. We will respond firmly to these allegations."

The agency expressed condolences over Kim Sae Ron’s passing and urged the public to refrain from spreading or amplifying false rumors.

According to police reports, Kim Sae Ron was found deceased at her home on February 16. Gold Medalist previously issued a statement mourning her passing, saying, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of Kim Sae Ron’s passing. May she rest in peace."

Kim Sae Ron was affiliated with Gold Medalist from 2020 to 2022. In May 2022, she was involved in a drunk driving incident that sparked public controversy.

SEE ALSO: Kim Sae Ron’s father to take legal action against YouTuber Lee Jin Ho over malicious rumors