Kim Sae Ron’s Mother Shares Emotional Letter Addressing False Articles and Malicious Comments, Does Not Mention Kim Soo Hyun

On March 14, a heartfelt statement was shared via the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute by the mother of Kim Sae Ron, who expressed her profound concerns regarding the media’s portrayal of her family. Notably, she refrained from discussing Kim Soo Hyun in relation to his mental health, focusing instead on her daughter’s legacy.

Kim Sae Ron’s Mother’s Message

“Greetings. We are the grieving family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron.

After considerable thought, we have chosen to publish this statement upon observing the misinterpretation and distortion of our family’s intentions. As previously indicated to Garo Sero Research Institute, our primary goal is to restore the honor of a daughter whose life was abruptly devastated by numerous false narratives.

Furthermore, we are determined to establish a legal framework to hold accountable those malicious YouTubers and online bullies, aiming to prevent such occurrences from happening again in the future.”

Addressing Falsehoods and Media Distortions

“Sae Ron always maintained honesty with the media. She never misrepresented herself for financial gain nor indulged in an excessive nightlife. She never fabricated images to fuel dating speculations.

Despite this, false reports orchestrated by Lee Jin Ho and certain internet users severely tarnished the reputation of a talented young actress and her family. Moreover, Gold Medalist dismissed Sae Ron’s photos, categorizing her as reckless, undermining her character and intentions.”

The Consequences of False Representation

“In the aftermath of Sae Ron’s passing, numerous inaccuracies arose, including the false narrative that she was the primary financial supporter of her family and that her income was squandered by her relatives. A slew of fabricated articles falsely claimed she sought help from Kim Soo Hyun during difficult times, suggesting he had returned her pleas with silence—an outright lie.”

The narrative being perpetuated now is the result of sensationalism and exaggeration based on a handful of photographs provided to Garo Sero. Had Sae Ron been supported by a robust agency or substantial legal counsel, she might have managed to navigate through the storm more effectively. Unfortunately, at that critical moment, her only support was her family.

All the assaults targeted a young woman barely in her 20s, with a future ahead of her.

Emotional and Psychological Impact on Sae Ron

“For three long years, Sae Ron faced this ordeal alone, suffering sleepless nights. It was akin to national ostracization provoked by Lee Jin Ho’s falsehoods. Media outlets failed to verify the truth; instead, they mindlessly echoed Lee Jin Ho’s allegations without considering the damage they were inflicting on Sae Ron’s life.

It was Lee Jin Ho and the online bullies who trampled on a young soul, only to bring her up just to cast her down once more.”

A Plea from the Family

“As a grieving family, we reached out to various media organizations seeking assistance in clearing Sae Ron’s name, yet none offered help. Some YouTubers even attempted to secretly film footage at her funeral. How can such actions be deemed humane?

Is it possible to forgive such people?

If it weren’t for Professor Kwon Young Chan from the Korean Celebrities’ Suicide Prevention Association and journalist Kim Se Ui from Garo Sero, our family would have been utterly crushed by Lee Jin Ho and the online scavengers.

Their actions are nothing short of criminal.

While existing laws may not classify this as outright murder, there is no doubt that their relentless spread of lies and deceit indirectly contributed to Sae Ron’s tragic end.

Our family will never reunite with Sae Ron again.

We ask for one thing: the full restoration of the honor that Sae Ron held as an actress during her lifetime.

We urge for the corrections of the damaging narratives, and for systemic legal and institutional changes to ensure the media serves its true purpose—so that such tragedies are never repeated.”

Overview of the Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun Controversy

Previously, the Garo Sero Research Institute alleged that Kim Sae Ron had been involved romantically with Kim Soo Hyun since she was just 15 years old. According to claims, their relationship began around the inception of Gold Medalist and culminated with her expulsion following a DUI incident in May 2022.

Reports indicated that Gold Medalist issued a legal notice demanding restitution of 700 million KRW (approximately 530, 000 USD) to compensate for the damages caused by her actions while Kim Soo Hyun purportedly ignored her pleas.

Allegedly, text messages from March 2024 revealed Sae Ron asking Kim Soo Hyun for assistance, stating:

“Oppa, it’s me, Sae Ron. I’m striving for a comeback and intend to gradually repay the damages with each project I take on. It’s not that I don’t want to pay, but my circumstances don’t allow it right now. Must we really involve the courts? Please help me, I’m pleading for your understanding.”

Despite her attempts, Kim Soo Hyun reportedly never responded.

Additionally, Gold Medalist addressed the photos cited by Garo Sero, asserting that they were taken during their relationship in winter 2020. They highlighted that the clothing Kim Sae Ron wore in those images was from a collection launched in June 2019, rendering Garo Sero’s claim that these photos were from 2016, when Sae Ron was a minor, impossible.