Kim Soo Hyun's Tearful Press Conference: "I'm Not a Pedophile or a Murderer" - Full Coverage of His Response to Kim Sae Ron Controversy
Kim Soo Hyun Finally Breaks His Silence After 21 Days
On March 31, 2025, actor Kim Soo Hyun finally appeared before the press after 21 days of silence following explosive allegations from the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron. Dressed in all black, he took to the stage at Stanford Hotel in Mapo-gu, Seoul, visibly emotional as he addressed the controversy that has engulfed his career.
"First, I'm sorry. It seems like many people are suffering because of me," he began, tears welling in his eyes. "And I feel nothing but sadness that the deceased cannot rest in peace."
The press conference came after Kim Sae Ron's family claimed through the YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Research Institute' that Kim Soo Hyun had dated Kim Sae Ron for six years, beginning when she was a minor in middle school, and that his agency had pressured her with debt collection notices amounting to 700 million won after she left her agency.
The Star vs. The Human: A Painful Choice
During his emotional address, Kim Soo Hyun repeatedly referred to himself as a "coward" who had always been desperate to protect what he had gained.
"I've always been busy running away and denying things out of fear of what I might lose or how I might be harmed," he admitted. "That's why it took me so long to stand here."
One of the most revealing aspects of his confession was the distinction he drew between himself as a human being and as a star. When Kim Sae Ron first posted photos of them together during the airing of 'Queen of Tears,' he denied their relationship. Looking back on that decision, he explained:
"I dated the deceased for about a year, four years ago. But at that time, I denied the fact that we were dating. It's natural for you to criticize this choice of mine."
He continued, "Whenever the choices of Kim Soo Hyun the human and Kim Soo Hyun the star diverged, I always seemed to make choices as Kim Soo Hyun the star. But even if I could go back to when 'Queen of Tears' was airing, I would make the same choice again. I have to. I can't make that decision just to ease my own mind."
Refuting the Allegations: "I Never Dated Her as a Minor"
Despite his apologetic tone about hiding their relationship, Kim Soo Hyun firmly denied the most serious allegations against him.
"I never dated the deceased when she was a minor," he stated clearly. "And it is also not true that the deceased made a tragic choice because of my turning away from her or because my agency pressured her about debt."
According to Kim Soo Hyun, he and Kim Sae Ron were "ordinary lovers" who met when she was an adult, developed feelings for each other, and eventually broke up. He claimed they had limited contact after their breakup, which made it difficult for him to reach out even during her difficult times, such as when she was involved in a drunk driving incident.
"I heard from the YouTube channel representing the deceased's family that the head of her last agency said she was having a hard time because of me during the drunk driving incident. But as far as I know, she was dating someone else at that time. That's why it was very cautious for me to make any contact in such a situation."
Evidence and Counter-Evidence: The KakaoTalk Messages
A significant portion of Kim Soo Hyun's defense centered around the KakaoTalk messages that Kim Sae Ron's family had presented as evidence of their relationship when she was a minor.
"The KakaoTalk content that the family first revealed contains too many incorrect facts to have been written by the deceased," he argued. "What they claimed was a 2016 photo was actually from 2019. Also, if it were the deceased, she couldn't have gotten our age difference wrong. She also couldn't have gotten the name of the agency she was with for four years and her contract period all wrong."
Kim Soo Hyun revealed that he had submitted the KakaoTalk messages from 2016, 2018, and his recent conversations with acquaintances to a verification agency that scientifically analyzes statements. According to him, the agency concluded that the person chatting with Kim Sae Ron in the 2016 and 2018 KakaoTalk messages were different individuals.
"The most painful thing since the family's revelations began has been this: whenever my agency and I issue a statement about the family's evidence, suddenly newly recorded testimonies are released. Photos and videos with cleverly altered time points, and edited KakaoTalk images that aren't the originals, are presented as evidence. Fake testimonies and fake evidence continue to be produced using the fact that I dated the deceased as a pretext."
The Pressure of Daily Threats and Accusations
Throughout his statement, Kim Soo Hyun revealed the psychological toll the scandal has taken on him, describing daily threats of new revelations about his private life.
"Even in this moment, I'm afraid and trembling and scared. I'm scared of what these words will come back as, but in the end, despite that, because I'm this kind of person, I think I need to speak up," he said through tears.
He described receiving advice to simply accept the allegations to manage the risk and prepare for a comeback later, but explained why he couldn't do that:
"I couldn't do that. I couldn't accept being threatened and forced to acknowledge lies as truth. Every day, I receive threats that tomorrow they'll post some picture or reveal something. I'm afraid of what they'll distort and reveal to frame me as a murderer today."
The most serious accusations he faced were being labeled a pedophile who groomed a minor and a murderer who drove Kim Sae Ron to her death through financial pressure. These accusations, he said, were what finally drove him to speak publicly despite his fear.
Legal Actions and Future Steps
Kim Soo Hyun made it clear that he intends to pursue legal action to verify all the evidence presented by Kim Sae Ron's family.
"I will take steps to thoroughly verify all the evidence presented by the family through investigative agencies. If the evidence held by the family is really true, I request that they submit all materials to investigative agencies and have them verified through legal procedures."
He emphasized that while he is willing to accept criticism for his choices, he cannot accept false accusations:
"I will accept any criticism for the choices I've made. But that doesn't mean that everything that isn't true becomes true. I will prove it, not just ask you to believe me."
The press conference ended without a Q&A session. Present at the event were Kim Soo Hyun, his agency's legal representative Kim Jong-bok from LKB & Partners, and Golden Medalist co-representative Ahn Sung-soo.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Controversy
The press conference has generated significant public discussion, with opinions divided on Kim Soo Hyun's tearful testimony. While some netizens expressed sympathy for his position and the pressure he faces as a top star, others remain skeptical about the timeline of his relationship with Kim Sae Ron.
The controversy has been further complicated by additional allegations from the brother of the late actress Sulli regarding Kim Soo Hyun's film 'Real' (2017), where he questioned why Sulli was persuaded to film bed scenes and nude scenes despite the presence of a body double actress.
As the legal process unfolds, both sides continue to present contradictory evidence and testimonies. The case highlights the complex intersection of celebrity privacy, public persona, and the responsibilities that come with fame in the Korean entertainment industry.
Kim Soo Hyun's agency has filed complaints against Kim Sae Ron's family and the YouTube channel for defamation, while investigations continue into the veracity of the evidence presented by both sides.