South Korean media outlet Dispatch, known for revealing high-profile celebrity relationships, has confirmed Kim Soo Hyun's romance with the late actress Kim Sae Ron. The publication has also obtained a content certification from his management company, Gold Medalist, which was sent to Kim Sae Ron in March 2024. Additionally, a close friend of the actor revealed why Kim Soo Hyun never publicly acknowledged his relationship with the former child actress, despite widespread rumors about their alleged romance.? ??
On March 12, 2025,?Dispatch?released an article sharing how Kim Soo Hyun's management company Gold Medalist didn’t act in Kim Sae Ron‘s best interests, which could have contributed to her death. This comes after the late actress' aunt accused the?Queen of Tears?actor through the YouTube channel Garasero Research Institute.?
The exclusive story published by the publication reveals that in March 2024, Gold Medalist sent Kim Sae Ron an official notice for debt repayment. This was the amount that they had paid to settle her 2022 DUI incident. She was being ordered to pay compensation to her former agency for the damages she caused. She still had ?686 million (about $473,000) left to pay back, and the due date was December 31, 2023. Gold Medalist threatened to take both civil and criminal legal action if the amount was not paid back in full, the report added.
It further claimed that Kim Sae Ron, once Gold Medalist's top celebrity, had her contract terminated. She may have thought her debt was settled, but an official notice sparked fear, prompting her to send an SOS message to Kim Soo Hyun.
What was the message that Kim Sae Ron sent to Kim Soo Hyun?
Dispatch?also obtained the SOS message Kim Sae Ron sent to Kim Soo Hyun. It is the same message that Garasero had shared on March 11, 2025.?
The message read, "Oppa, this is Sae Ron. I received the letter of certification today that [your company] is suing me. You said that you would give me ample time, so I’m working hard, preparing to make a comeback. I will pay you back with a percentage from each work. I’m not saying that I won’t pay you back, but if you suddenly ask for ?700 million (about $480,000) right now, I really can’t do anything. It’s not that I won’t, but I can’t. Do you really have to take it as far as a lawsuit? Please save me… I beg of you. Give me some time."
According to?Dispatch, Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun allegedly had a romantic relationship. The report also stated that this was also the reason why the?Bloodhounds?actress left YG Entertainment in 2019 and decided to join Kim Soo Hyun's newly established company Gold Medalist, which was initially a one-person agency for Kim Soo Hyun. The article, however, did not confirm their relationship timeline. Her aunt had earlier claimed that they dated for six year, starting from 2015 to 2021.?
A close acquaintance of Kim Soo Hyun reportedly told the publication that the actor never confirmed his relationship in public due to Kim Sae Ron's age, who was 12 years his junior. Their relationship is an open secret, something that can't be dismissed as 'groundless,' the insider told the publication.
After no response from Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Sae Ron shared an intimate photo with the actor to grab his attention. This had fueled their relationship rumors, but back then, the gold medalist had dismissed the accusations.
When?Dispatch?reached out to the actress for a comment, she said, "“I never said I would issue a statement. It seems my words were misinterpreted.”
Dispatch?then reached out to Gold Medalist, but their explanation raised suspicions due to its inconsistency. Despite no change in Kim Sae Ron's financial situation, the agency suddenly waived the repayment requirement, sparking questions about the true motives behind this decision. "Considering Kim Sae Ron’s circumstances, the agency has decided not to ask for the money from her," the agency said.
In their article, the media agency?further highlighted the inconsistencies in Gold Medalist's statements, suggesting a disparity in treatment between Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun. It said while Kim Sae Ron did not want the issue to escalate, Gold Medalist issued a one-sided statement to the media, which painted the former child actress in a negative light.
Kim Sae Ron passed away on Kim Soo Hyun's birthday on February 16, 2025. After her death,?Dispatch?contacted Gold Medalist seeking clarification on the financial obligations Kim Sae Ron was expected to fulfill.
The company told the publication, "The production company for?Bloodhounds?claimed ?700 million KRW (about $482,000 USD) in compensation for her drunk driving incident. The company paid the compensation amount in advance in her place."
When?Dispatch?asked why they sent her a certified notice threatening legal actions, the company responded, "We had no intentions of receiving money from Kim Sae Ron. We thought we wouldn’t get it. We only followed basic procedures because there could have been a case of malpractice brought up."
The South Korean media giant then inquired if they informed her it was merely a formality; the company replied that her manager got in contact with her.
When?Dispatch?highlighted Kim Sae Ron's anxious state of mind after she was served the notice, Gold Medalist said, "She was told the company paid out the compensation. We knew we couldn’t get such a large amount from her. We told her she could pay it back when she brings in a profit for the company or when she can afford it."
The report identified discrepancies between Kim Sae Ron's actions and Gold Medalist's claims. It stated that Kim Sae Ron likely felt burdened by Gold Medalist's official notice. When questioned about compensation, Gold Medalist revealed Kim Sae Ron's damaged car was sold for ?35.0 million KRW ($24,100 USD), and no further payments were received.
The report further added that Sae Ron made significant efforts to repay Gold Medalist, selling her car and convertible bonds to gather approximately ?200 million KRW ($138,000 USD). However, Gold Medalist acknowledged being aware of Kim Sae Ron's inability to repay the full amount, yet still proceeded to send her an official notice demanding repayment.
Dispatch?investigated further by visiting Kim Sae Ron's apartment complex, where they spoke to a resident who claimed to have seen a wound on Kim Sae Ron's wrist. The resident expressed sympathy, stating they had no idea Kim Sae Ron was an actress and thought she was just a young woman who moved to Seoul with her sister, leading a difficult life.
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