New evidence has emerged suggesting that actor Kim Soo Hyun’s relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron may date back to 2015 — not 2019, as he previously claimed.

On March 31st, a former journalist named Kim held a livestream following Kim Soo Hyun’s press conference and revealed several photos that allegedly contradict the actor’s statements.

Among the photos was a shot of Kim Sae Ron eating, which closely matches her outfit and hairstyle from the December 12, 2015 broadcast of MBC’s Show! Music Core, where she was an MC at the time. Viewers noted the striking similarity, concluding the two images were taken on the same day. Notably, in the reconstructed KakaoTalk messages between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron, Kim is seen reacting to the food photo with the comment, “Isn’t this seriously too cute?”

The key detail is the date. Kim Sae Ron was a second-year middle school student at the time — clearly underage — which has prompted renewed public scrutiny. Online users are now questioning the credibility of Kim Soo Hyun’s claim that their relationship only began in the summer of 2019 and lasted until the fall of 2020.

Despite the growing speculation, Kim Soo Hyun doubled down on his version of events during his press conference held at the Stanford Hotel in Sangam, Seoul. He firmly stated, “The deceased and I dated for about a year, five years ago — four years before Queen of Tears aired.”

In contrast, Kim Sae Ron’s family has continued to release photos and messages that they say contradict Kim’s narrative. These include an image of a man, presumed to be Kim Soo Hyun, drinking soju and eating dakbokkeumtang (spicy chicken stew) with Kim Sae Ron, as well as a photo of her sleeping in someone’s bed.

Meanwhile, Kim Soo Hyun has filed a criminal complaint for defamation against the bereaved family, a woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt, and journalist Kim. He has also submitted a ₩12 billion (approx. $9 million USD) civil lawsuit seeking damages.

SEE ALSO: Late Kim Sae Ron's family share the touching letter left by a journalist