South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun is currently in the midst of a massive scandal following allegations of 'grooming' late actress Kim Sae Ron. While the actor has been facing boycott calls from all corners, the Hallyu industry has largely been silent on the actor's controversy. Amid the ongoing uproar, late actress Sulli's name has been mentioned time and again. Not only this, but recently her elder brother, Choi Dae Hee, intensified speculations among netizens with a cryptic post.
Choi Geon Hee, Sulli's brother, posted a cryptic message on TheQoo: "Mr Kim, I have a lot to say, but I can't. You're going to fall from your high position, so you better hold on tight." Although he didn't mention a name, fans connected the dots to Kim Soo Hyun, linking it to the controversy surrounding his past with Kim Sae Ron. Some also wondered if the late Sulli was subtly referenced in the post. Notably, Sulli and Kim Soo Hyun had starred together in the 2017 film Real. The film invited massive backlash against Sulli for her intimate scenes with Kim Soo Hyun.
After many labelled Choi's post as a thinly veiled warning to Kim Soo Hyun, he set the records straight with another Instagram post. "It's astonishing how self-proclaimed 'fans' are being utterly unhelpful," he said, directly referencing Kim Soo Hyun. "I didn't even mention his name, yet people swarmed in instantly."
?Choi emphasised that he's been holding back for years and doesn't intend to fuel further controversy for the Queen of Tears star. "Others will give him a hard time; my speaking up won't change facts or help anyone," he stated. "So, let's not poke the bear and move on."
Sulli, born Choi Jin Ri, was a South Korean singer, actress, and former K-pop group member. Her career spanned over a decade, with early beginnings as a child actress in the 2005 SBS drama Ballad of Seedong.
Rising to fame as a member of the girl group f(x), Sulli, hailed as a natural beauty, garnered widespread popularity with her charming on-screen presence in various TV shows, including Oh! My Lady, To the Beautiful You, and Welcome to the Show. Her filmography included notable titles like I Am, The Pirates, Fashion King, and Real.
Sulli's life was cut short when she was found deceased at her home in Seongnam, South Korea, on October 14, 2019. She was just 25 years old. Her manager discovered her body after she failed to respond to phone calls. While the exact cause of death remains unclear, authorities reported no signs of forced entry or a suicide note.
As per the Associated Press, Sulli "was known for her feminist voice and?outspokenness?that was rare among female entertainers in deeply conservative South Korea."
Sulli and IU were known to be two peas in a pod. The duo would often get clicked together, share pictures with each other on SNS, and spend important occasions, such as New Year, together.
After her death, IU wrote Peach, a song that was inspired by Sulli.?
During her November 2019 tour concert Love, Poem in Seoul at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena, IU fondly remembered her late friend.
The My Mister actress said, "I am no longer able to see my friend whom I¡¯ve loved so dearly. She used to always come to see my concerts that are held in Seoul, no matter how busy she was. So I tried really hard not to cry today. But it has been a month since I last saw her."
Kim Soo Hyun, known for his roles in dramas such as Dream High, Moon Embracing the Sun, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, and Queen of Tears, has recently been embroiled in a dating scandal involving the late actress Kim Sae Ron.
Kim Sae Ron's family has alleged that the two were involved in a relationship while she was still a minor. Initially, Kim Soo Hyun's agency denied these claims, but later they confirmed that the two did date¡ªalbeit only after Kim Sae Ron reached adulthood.
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