On March 18, the family of the late Kim Sae Ron announced their decision to conduct digital forensics on photos taken with actor Kim Soo Hyun, expressing disappointment over the response from Kim Soo Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist.

A representative from late Kim Sae Ron's family told Hankyung.com on the same day, "We have decided to carry out digital forensics on photos that could prove late Kim Sae Ron was in a relationship with Kim Soo Hyun when she was a minor."

Additionally, the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (HoverLab) is expected to release a video of Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron from their time as a couple later today.

Kwon Young Chan, the head of the Korea Celebrity Suicide Prevention Association, stated, "Kim Sae Ron tried to protect Kim Soo Hyun until the very end. She even worried about whether to conduct forensics, asking, 'What should I do if something like this happens later?'"

The family also claimed that Kim Soo Hyun suggested switching from KakaoTalk to Telegram for communication.

Furthermore, the family criticized Gold Medalist’s response after the agency shared a photo of a funeral wreath sent to Kim Sae Ron's memorial. "The agency claimed that Kim Soo Hyun sent the wreath, but it was actually a staff member who attended. Given that they were in a long-term relationship, Kim Soo Hyun should have come himself," they said.

The controversy began on March 10 when Garosero Research Institute revealed a phone call with Kim Sae Ron's family, claiming that Kim Soo Hyun had been in a six-year relationship with Kim Sae Ron since 2015, when she was only 15 years old. The channel also released photos and text messages allegedly exchanged between the two.

Kim Sae Ron's agency, Gold Medalist, denied the allegations, stating, "It is not true that Kim Soo Hyun was in a relationship with Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor. They only dated from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after she became an adult."

The dispute between the two sides continues. Kim Sae Ron's family claimed that Kim Soo Hyun had sent two notices demanding debt repayment, which they described as "essentially a threat."

In response, Gold Medalist stated, "Kim Soo Hyun never filed a claim for damages against Kim Sae Ron. The second notice was simply a legal procedure to provide guidance on repayment terms and schedule."

SEE ALSO: Kim Sae Ron's bereaved family releases an AI-generated memorial video of the late actress