Kim Soo-hyun Admits Secret Romance with Kim Sae-ron "Only Dated After She Became an Adult" and Breaks Down from Being Followed "Psychologically Extremely Distressed"

South Korean star Kim Soo-hyun was exposed for pursuing the then 15-year-old Kim Sae-ron when he was 27, with the relationship lasting six years. This has sparked public outrage, accusing him of violating a minor, and the YouTube program "Research Institute Across the Lines" (referred to as: Across the Lines) has been revealing past intimate photos of them for consecutive days. His agency GOLDMEDALIST originally planned to release a statement with evidence next week, but suddenly released the statement today, admitting "there was a relationship with Kim Sae-ron from 2019 to 2020," denying any secret romance while she was underaged. They also mentioned that "Across the Lines" was filming in front of the company, "Kim Soo-hyun was psychologically extremely distressed early this morning," hence the urgent statement.

In the statement, it was mentioned, "After the report from 'Across the Lines,' Kim Soo-hyun was accused of being the cause of someone's sudden passing, leading to severe emotional turmoil. 'Across the Lines' had someone with a video camera in a vehicle parked in front of the company’s main entrance and parking lot after the program ended on the night of the 12th, stationed till dawn, and again at noon on the 13th, people with cameras were wandering around the building, continuously putting psychological pressure on Kim Soo-hyun," admitting that Kim Soo-hyun is on the verge of collapse.

Regarding the controversy of dating a minor, the statement explained: "Kim Soo-hyun started dating Kim Sae-ron in the summer of 2019 after she became an adult, until the fall of 2020. It is not true that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor." As for the intimate face-touching and kissing photos released by "Across the Lines," GOLDMEDALIST stated: "The photos that Kim Sae-ron posted on IG stories on March 24, 2024, and those released by 'Across the Lines' on March 11, 2025, were all taken on the same day in the winter of 2020 during their relationship." They also pointed out, "At that time, the clothes Kim Sae-ron was wearing were from a brand released in June 2019, making 'Across the Lines' claims that the photos were taken when Kim Sae-ron was a minor in 2016 impossible."

Allegedly, Kim Sae-ron’s aunt has been accusing Kim Soo-hyun on "Across the Lines" of pursuing the then 15-year-old Kim Sae-ron when he was 27, and that their "Uncle-Niece Love" lasted six years. The program additionally released multiple intimate photos, besides the previously exposed face-touching photo, there were also photos of Kim Soo-hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek, closing his eyes and pouting for a kiss, as well as letters he wrote to Kim Sae-ron while serving in the army and working in Paris. According to messages to her cousin exposed on the program, the secret romance began on November 19, 2015, and broke up on July 7, 2021, sparking suspicions of Kim Soo-hyun dating a minor, shocking the public.

Kim Soo-hyun Sends Letter During Military Service: Just Writing to a Good Friend "Missing You" is Common Military Phrase

Regarding the previous Korean media "Research Institute Across the Lines" exposure of a letter sent during military service described as a love letter, it was also denied, emphasizing it was only an ordinary letter Kim Soo-hyun shared about his daily military life with a close friend at that time.

The "Research Institute Across the Lines" previously reported on the 12th that Kim Soo-hyun sent letters during his military service to Kim Sae-ron, then a high school sophomore, mentioning in the letter his nickname for her, "SeRoNeRo," and his deep confession "I miss you." Additionally, Kim Soo-hyun shared many daily life photos from the military, including ones wearing military uniforms and receiving IV drips.

In response, Kim Soo-hyun's agency Gold Medalist today emphasized through a statement that the letters Kim Soo-hyun wrote to Kim Sae-ron during his service were merely ordinary correspondence sharing his adaptation to military life with close friends. There was no special meaning: "The content mainly described his adaptation to military life, and letters were shared with other close friends as well. Phrases like 'I miss you' are common expressions among soldiers."