Korean star Kim Soo-hyun has actually emphatically rejected claims that he groomed and dated the late Netflix star Kim Sae-ron when she was a small.
Throughout a surprise interview on Monday in Seoul, South Korea, the 37-year-old Soo-hyun tearfully attended to allegations that he dated Sae-ron– who passed away by suicide at age 24 on Soo-hyun’s birthday in February– when she was 15. South Korea specifies juveniles as any person under 19.
” I can’t confess something I didn’t do,” Soo-hyun informed press, according to the BBC.
While Soo-hyun confessed that the set had actually dated for a year when Sae-ron was an adult, he rejected ever having actually dated her when she was minor.
” I never ever dated her when she was a small,” he stated. “Other than for the truth that both people were stars, our relationship was easily of any other regular couple.”
Soo-hyun’s remarks come weeks after he discovered himself at the center of the scandal, which initially emerged when a YouTube channel released videos and images of the 2 stars, declaring they had actually remained in a six-year relationship that presumably started when Sae-ron was 15.
Recently, the lawyer representing Sae-ron’s household held an interview and exposed even more messaging history presumably shared in between the 2 stars from 2016, when she was 16.
Soo-hyun’s company at first rejected the household’s claims before later clarifying that the 2 had actually dated from 2019 to 2020 when Sae-ron was an adult.
At Monday’s interview, Soo-hyun protected his previous rejection of their relationship in 2024 when Sae-ron published a later-deleted Instagram picture of them throughout the airing of his Netflix love drama Queen of Tears
” I had a lot to safeguard as its lead star,” he discussed. “What would have occurred if I had confessed to a year-long relationship? What would occur to the stars, the personnel who were working overnight and the production group who had whatever staked on that job? The more I considered it, the more I believed that should not be what I do.”
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Pursue freeAdmissions of any romantic relationships within the South Korean show business are normally viewed as outrageous, as stars’ individual lives are typically based on extreme analysis by fans.
The debate, which has actually given that rocked the South Korean show business, in addition includes allegations that Soo-hyun’s company, GoldMedalist, forced Sae-ron to pay back a financial obligation she owed him prior to her death.
In 2022, Sae-ron dealt with a duration of expert problem after a 2022 intoxicated driving occurrence, for which she got a court fine of 20 million won ($ 14,000).
Sae-ron’s household declared that GoldMedalist, to which she had actually likewise been signed from 2020 to 2022, covered her legal fines. Nevertheless, GoldMedalist took legal action versus Sae-ron for payment and disregarded her ask for more time to come up with the cash, her household declared.
Soo-hyun rejected those claims at Monday’s interview, stating that Sae-ron did not make “the terrible option since of me or my company pressing her over a financial obligation.”
” Lots of people are suffering since of me,” Soo-hyun included, asking forgiveness to his fans and personnel. “I likewise regret that the late starlet [Kim Sae-ron] isn’t able to rest in peace.”
Soo-hyun’s profession has actually dealt with substantial damage in the wake of the scandal. A number of brand names, consisting of Prada and Korean cosmetics business Dinto, have actually given that ended their collaborations with him. On the other hand, Disney+ has actually supposedly stopped briefly a program starring Soo-hyun due to the debate, according to regional news company Yonhap
The star’s legal group has actually submitted criminal grievances versus Kim Sae-ron’s household, in addition to the YouTube channel, in addition to a civil suit looking for damages of KRW12 billion (roughly $8.1 million).
The Independent has actually connected to GoldMedalist for remark.
If you are experiencing sensations of distress, or are having a hard time to cope, you can talk to the Samaritans, in self-confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), e-mail jo@samaritans.org, or check out the Samaritans site to discover information of your closest branch.
If you are based in the U.S.A., and you or somebody you understand requirements psychological health support today, call or text 988, or check out 988lifeline. org to gain access to online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a totally free, private crisis hotline that is offered to everybody 24 hr a day, 7 days a week.
If you remain in another nation, you can go to www.befrienders.org to discover a helpline near you.