Kim Sae-ron doesn't find peace even in death: A rich legacy hijacked by Kim Soo-hyun frenzy and internet obsession

In February this year, South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron was found dead in her apartment in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.

She had always been a star, and had begun her acting career at the age of nine and gained recognition for her roles in films such as A Brand New Life and The Man from Nowhere. Her career had an admiring mix of different roles: She was always choosing something different. From playing a girl grappling with domestic violence, to leading television shows in 2015 and 2016, she was an unforgettable face. She tried everything: Dramas, thrillers, and everything in between. Directors always described her as vivacious. Bright. Brilliant. She had a rough couple of years between crushing debt and a DUI incident, but she was getting back on her feet. A close friend had recalled how she had plans to start something simple of her own again. She wanted to reopen a cafe and commit to acting, properly. She wanted a fresh start.

But, in the past few months, Kim Sae-ron, the person, as she was, hasn't been remembered, or her films. What's been discussed, dissected, is her love life, due to the fresh scandals that keep emerging.

Her sudden passing sent shockwaves across the entertainment industry and among fans, especially given the tragic context: She died on Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday, one of South Korea’s most prominent actors and, according to long-standing rumours, her former boyfriend. However, his agency had denied their relationship when Sae-ron had once shared a photo of the two of them on her Instagram.

The Kim Soo-hyun expose

Almost immediately, social media lit up with quiet speculation. Fans began sharing archived articles and screenshots, pointing to Sae-ron’s struggles with mental health, financial hardship, and the DUI scandal in 2022. Twitter threads dissected timelines and resurfaced old interviews, searching for clues. What began as mourning soon mutated into a fresh cycle of controversy.

Then in March, a YouTube exposé changed everything overnight. The video, amplified by others and citing someone claiming to be Sae-ron’s aunt, alleged that Kim Soo-hyun had been romantically involved with Sae-ron when she was still a minor and working under his agency, Gold Medalist. The timeline suggested she was 15 and he was 27 at the time. These explosive allegations spread rapidly, threatening to dismantle Soo-hyun’s reputation and casting a long shadow over the actress’s final months.

Agency’s defenses

Gold Medalist swiftly issued a detailed statement, denying all allegations. The agency insisted that if any romantic relationship existed, it began only after Sae-ron had reached legal adulthood. They also rejected claims that she had been coerced into financial obligations, saying all company actions were in line with industry protocol. Yet public skepticism lingered.

As the days passed, private photos and personal messages allegedly between Sae-ron and Soo-hyun were leaked online, further inflaming public opinion. Calls for justice on Sae-ron’s behalf clashed with fervent defenses of Soo-hyun. He eventually held a tearful press conference, denying the claims, emphasizing that their relationship had been appropriate and consensual, and announcing lawsuits against Sae-ron’s family for defamation.

Recent rumours

Still, the scandal deepened. Recently, unverified claims surfaced, about Sae-ron’s alleged ex-boyfriends, even a supposed ex-husband. In an attempt to clear the air, her family released text messages they said proved she and Soo-hyun had been romantically involved. The messages went viral, further driving a wedge between public sympathies and dragging both names deeper into the mud.

Now, even months after her death, Kim Sae-ron’s name remains entangled in fresh gossip. Unconfirmed reports suggest she was romantically involved with a member of a seven-member idol group. Instead of resting in peace, her memory is once again being dissected and judged, this time with accusations of infidelity.

What began as mourning has devolved into a posthumous trial, one fought in the court of public opinion, fed by leaks, speculation, and an unrelenting digital spotlight. In the end, the tragedy isn’t just that Kim Sae-ron died young, but that even in death, she is being denied dignity.