IU accused by Sulli's brother as Kim Soo-hyun controversy escalates: Jung Hae-in, Im Si-wan, and others drawn in

The Kim Soo-hyun controversy shows no signs of fading anytime soon. Following allegations about his relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron that surfaced last month, both the actor and his agency have been working to deny claims that he dated the actress when she was a minor and that he pressured her during her financial troubles. However, new allegations have emerged, particularly surrounding his film Real, which starred Sulli, who tragically passed away in 2019. Sulli’s brother has accused Soo-hyun of pressuring her into performing intimate scenes in the movie.

In response, Sulli’s brother, Choi Da Hee, shared a cryptic social media post naming several key industry figures, including Real’s director Lee Sa-rang (Lee Ro-be), actor Kim Soo-hyun, YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, Kim Sae-ron’s manager, and former director Lee Jung Sub, who was replaced during the film's production, according to KBI Zoom.

IU caught in the middle

IU, the beloved Korean soloist and K-drama star who recently delivered one of Netflix’s biggest hits, When Life Gives You Tangerines, has also found herself entangled in the controversy due to her decade-long friendship with Soo-hyun. Having first worked together in the 2011 drama Dream High, the two have maintained a close professional and personal relationship, with Soo-hyun even attending her 2024 concert. As the scandal escalated, many questioned IU’s silence.

The situation intensified when Sulli’s brother dragged her name into the Real film controversy. While he had initially praised IU for supporting Sulli emotionally and artistically, he later edited his post to claim: “IU was close with Kim Soo-hyun. After rejecting the original female lead role in Real, she handed the script over to Sulli.”

Im Si-wan and Jung Hae-in face backlash

Actors Im Si-wan and Jung Hae-in have also come under fire, with many fans criticising them for their silence and for continuing to follow Soo-hyun on Instagram, despite the mounting evidence. The actors were last seen with Soo-hyun on the variety show Good Day. While many fans have defended Im Si-wan, arguing that he should not be linked to the scandal, he still unfollowed 87 accounts, including Soo-hyun.

Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency continues to deny and refute all allegations related to Sae-ron and Sulli, stating that groundless rumors are being spread to tarnish his reputation.