Late actress Kim Sae Ron was accompanied by a man in the passenger seat during her DUI incident in 2022, and rumors are now circulating that the individual was none other than her former Gold Medalist colleague Choi Hyun Wook. This isnĄŻt the first time Choi Hyun WookĄŻs name has been linked to Sae Ron's drunk driving incident, but at the time, his involvement was reportedly downplayed by his agency, which is co-owned by Kim Soo Hyun, in an effort to protect their rising star's image. The rumors resurfaced recently, fueled by claims from a Chinese blogger, amid Kim Soo Hyun's ongoing dating scandal with Kim Sae Ron.
After Kim Soo Hyun's dating scandal with Kim Sae Ron blew up online, details related to her DUI incident started resurfacing. A Chinese blogger claimed that Choi Hyun Wook, a labelmate of Kim Sae Ron's at the time, was reportedly a passenger in the vehicle when Kim Sae Ron was involved in a DUI incident. Although Kim Sae Ron took full responsibility for the accident, which caused property damage, claims suggest that their management company, Gold Medalist, intentionally concealed Choi Hyun Wook's presence to protect his rising career from the fallout.
However, the Twinkling Watermelon actor's fans have come to his defense, pointing out that reports from 2023 clearly state the passenger in the?Bloodhounds actress' 2022 accident was a woman in her 20s, not a celebrity, and she was fined 5 million won.
Netizens uncovered an old article from the Korean news outlet Bridge Economy, published on April 12, 2023. The article, titled "Court Sentences Kim Sae RonĄŻs Passenger to a 5 Million Won Fine for Aiding Drunk Driving," presented details that contradicted the circulating rumors.
The report stated, "A 21-year-old woman, who was in the passenger seat during actress Kim Sae-ronĄŻs drunk driving incident, was sentenced to a 5 million won fine in the first trial for aiding and abetting drunk driving, as ruled by Judge Lee Hwan-ki of the Seoul Central District Court on April 12."
The Chinese blogger further fueled the controversy by claiming that Choi Hyun Wook did not attend her funeral despite their apparent close bond as seen in their Instagram interactions.
The rising actor's fans countered these rumors as well by sharing an article from Ilgan Sports, confirming that he did attend Kim Sae Ron's memorial service. The article described Choi Hyun Wook arriving at the funeral home with a somber expression, paying his respects, and then departing quietly.
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As rumors related to Choi Hyun Wook's involvement in Kim Sae Ron's DUI incident continued to circulate, some netizens also pointed out that the two stars shared a close bond.
During the filming of Choi's 2020 series Real:Time:Love:4, Kim Sae Ron, along with Seo Yea Ji, who was also signed under Gold Medalist at the time, sent a coffee truck to the actor to extend their support.
In 2022, Sae Ron once again sent him a coffee truck while he was shooting for a K-drama. The banner on the coffee truck read, "You look the prettiest when you eat." Choi Hyun Wook posted a picture with the coffee truck on Instagram and captioned it, "A woman who doesnĄŻt betray my expectations, Kim Sae Ron Jjang."
Despite the rumors and controversy surrounding him, Choi Hyun Wook and his agency have chosen not to publicly address the allegations.?
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