As of March 13, the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron (25) has stated that actor Kim Soo Hyun (37) denying their alleged relationship constitutes defamation of the deceased and that they will take all necessary legal actions.

In an interview with The Fact released on the 13th, Kim Sae Ron’s aunt said, “What kind of parents would lie about their deceased child?” She added, “We became aware of their relationship just before Sae Ron transferred to Gold Medalist. While the age gap was too large to call them lovers, they certainly had affectionate feelings for each other.” The aunt currently serves as the family’s spokesperson.

She further stated, “When Sae Ron moved from YG Entertainment to Gold Medalist, their bond was so strong that she proceeded despite concerns. Given the significant age difference, as parents, we could not help but oppose it.”

Regarding the claim that Kim Sae Ron faced financial difficulties after halting activities due to her DUI accident and later received a legal notice demanding the repayment of 700 million KRW (approximately $532,000). from her agency, the aunt remarked, “There is no denying that Sae Ron was at fault for the DUI incident. However, sending a legal notice with the names of three law firm attorneys to a young girl who had no means to pay back such an amount seemed extreme. Perhaps they had already determined she wouldn’t be able to make a comeback and wanted to sever any lingering negative associations with someone they once dated.”

She also mentioned, “I am unsure if Kim Soo Hyun initially sympathized with Sae Ron’s situation, but she once told me that he had a disagreement with his maternal cousin over the repayment demand.”

Gold Medalist, the agency Kim Sae Ron was part of, was a one-person management company founded by Kim Soo Hyun and his maternal cousin. Kim Sae Ron was the first externally recruited artist.

The allegations that Kim Soo Hyun was involved with Kim Sae Ron when she was still a minor were first raised by the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute, which previously released photos of Kim Soo Hyun kissing Kim Sae Ron on the cheek.

On March 13, Gold Medalist issued an official statement saying, “To clarify the facts and respond to baseless rumors, we will provide a statement next week based on clear evidence.”

SEE ALSO: Kim Bo Ra writes heartfelt letter to late friend Kim Sae Ron