Kim Soo-hyun denies dating Kim Sae-ron underage, facing career setbacks and brand losses.
Kim Soo-hyun, South Korea’s top-rated actor to feature in “My Love from the Star” and “Queen of Tears,” has been involved in a recent scandal that mostly affected his professional and personal life. The scandal is founded on the allegations against his past relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron, who died in February 2025. Besides destroying Kim Soo-hyun’s reputation, the scandal also caused huge sums of money and loss of employment.
Accusations and Denials of Kim Soo-hyun
Kim Sae-ron’s family as well as one YouTube channel provided in March of 2025 records of a six-year long romance between Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun, on it seems by age 15. The claims were a press sensation and inflamed widespread popular gossip. The agency of Kim Soo-hyun, Goldmedalist, denied the charges outright, insisting the two never were in an intimate relationship during Kim Sae-ron’s teenage years. They made a statement confirming that she began dating when she was of legal age, rejecting claims that Kim Soo-hyun was to blame for her premature death or forced her into asking for money.
Public Reaction and Press Conference
Following these allegations being made public, Kim Soo-hyun held a tearful press conference during which he strongly objected to the accusations and declared, “I can’t confess to something I didn’t do.” He wished that he never went through this ordeal due to the falsehoods and their detrimental impacts on his psyche. Despite his tearful appeal, public opinion was uncertain, with individuals doubting whether he was guilty or not.
Professional Setbacks
The scandal also financially impacted the career of Kim Soo-hyun. Prada, and others, cut off the actor’s endorsement. Prada affirmatively stated that they canceled the contract on good terms but did not want to comment further, whereas Dinto stated main reasons why they just could not continue with their advertisement contract.
Apart from that, it is alleged that Kim Soo-hyun will be forfeiting over 180 billion KRW worth of revenue through suspension and cancellation of his latest drama series “Knock-Off.” The drama, already in production with the first season shot, was halted during the scandal, therefore, incurring likely damages and loss in sales.
Industry Impact about Kim Soo-hyun
Scandal has reached entertainments’ professional relationship. Actor Ahn Bo Hyun was in response to a succession of increasing numbers of artists breaking their social media friendship bond with Kim Soo-hyun. It was as a sign of respect to the public opinion and perceived damage to professional collaborations.
Legal Actions
Apart from the accusations, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency has filed for damages for defamation and invasion of privacy against rumor spreaders. They filed for damages and reported the rumor spreaders to the authorities as suspects of defamation in order to protect the actor’s reputation and to compensate for harm caused to his reputation by way of reporting the rumor.
Public Discussion of Celebrity Treatment
The accident also generated more questions, though, about the way South Korean society treats celebrities, particularly in their own private miseries. The public internet bullying and cyberbullying that Kim Sae-ron was subjected to before she died tested the limits of the industry’s and the players’ accountability in rushing to defend or demonize public celebrities. The accident has also witnessed increasing calls for softer treatment of celebrities’ personal lives.
FAQs
1. Against which charges was Kim Soo-hyun accused?
Kim Soo-hyun was accused of having an affair with actress Kim Sae-ron during her minority years at age 15. That led to the premature demise of Kim Sae-ron in February 2025.
2. How did Kim Soo-hyun respond to accusations?
Kim Soo-hyun refuted the rumors forcefully, claiming she had nothing to do with them when more than 18 years old. He apologized to the false rumor and vowed to sue the fake rumor propagators.
3. How has the scandal harmed Kim Soo-hyun’s career?
The scandal had already caused cancellation of endorsements by brands of Prada and Dinto, etc. Apart from this, his new film “Knock-Off” also got cancelled, which would have resulted in a huge loss of money.
4. Did other celebrities react to the scandal?
Yes, celebrities who have also cut Kim Soo-hyun from their social media followings, such as Ahn Bo Hyun, do have precedents, and they show the excellence of the business to reputation.
5. What broader issues is this case raising?
The case has been controversial in terms of how celebrities are treated in South Korea, particularly in terms of media criticism and public outrage during personal crisis. It challenges the role of society and the need for a kinder environment for public figures during personal crisis.
In short, the scandal gave a negative impact to the private life and career as an actor of the actor Kim Soo-hyun. Despite his efforts to sweep it under the rug, professional condemnation that ensued and public ridicule are discussing the star crisis in South Korea. The incident is an agent of provocation for wider debate on media ethics and treatment of celebrities during personal crisis.