Where is Kim Soo-hyun? Actor’s silence sparks speculation of leaving South Korea amid agency denials and new allegations

South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is currently at the center of a growing controversy surrounding allegations about his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, with the YouTube channel producing more claims about their relationship, the latest being alleged photos and videos of the actor at Sae-ron’s house.

There has been much back and forth, as his agency has consistently denied the claims and defended him, the actor’s silence has fueled speculation and concern on social media. So far, the only known response from Soo-hyun is the agency’s statement that he has been experiencing psychological distress due to the reports. The controversy has also had professional consequences, with several major brands reportedly severing endorsement deals with him.

Allegations and brand reactions

The controversy arose from claims that Kim Soo-hyun had a romantic relationship with Kim Sae-ron starting in 2015, when she was a minor aged 15, while he was 27. The relationship allegedly lasted until 2021. Additionally, there are accusations that he pressured her to repay a 700 million won (approximately $481,200) penalty, which he had initially paid after her involvement in a driving under the influence (DUI) incident.

In response to these allegations, several brands have distanced themselves from Soo-hyun:

Prada: The luxury fashion house terminated its contract with the actor. A representative from Prada Korea stated, "In consideration of the gravity of the issue, we have mutually agreed to terminate our contract with actor Kim Soo-hyun."

Dinto: The beauty brand has paused promotional activities featuring Kim Soo-hyun.

Jeju Airlines: The airline removed a 10-year-old advertisement in which the actor appeared.

Several industry figures have distanced themselves from him, and actress Seol In-ah, who is under the same agency, has reportedly unfollowed the agency's official Instagram account. Furthermore, the actor has lost over 1 million followers on Instagram.

What’s the status of his show, Knock-Off?

Moreover, his show Knock-off remains in limbo, and there are numerous K-Media reports stating that the actor might even face penalty fees. According to AllKpop and Koreaboo, Knock-Off has an estimated production budget of 60 billion KRW (approximately 41 million USD). Kim Soo-hyun, the lead actor from Queen of Tears, reportedly earns between 500 million to 800 million KRW per episode, bringing his total earnings for the eight-episode season to over 5 billion KRW.

Initially, the production team reaffirmed that filming for Season 2 would continue as planned. However, subsequent reports suggest that the release schedule for Kim Soo-hyun’s new drama is now uncertain, facing potential delays. This follows ongoing allegations from the YouTube channel HOVERLAB (Garosero), which continues to release claims, unseen photos, and purported evidence linking the actor to a past relationship with Kim Sae-ron.

The agency’s response

Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Goldmedalist, has firmly denied and attempted to refute all the allegations. They stated, "The claims made by Garosero Research Institute regarding actor Kim Soo-hyun through their YouTube broadcast are clearly false." The agency added that the actors began their relationship only when Sae-ron turned 19, however this has led to further discussion that when Sae-ron had released a photo of the two of them, the agency had denied knowing anything about it.

The agency also addressed accusations of pressuring Kim Sae-ron to repay the penalty, asserting that these claims are unfounded.

Kim Sae-ron’s background

Kim Sae-ron, who began her acting career at the age of nine, was found unresponsive at her home in Seoul on February 16, 2025, and was later pronounced dead. She gained recognition for her role in the 2010 film "The Man from Nowhere." Her career faced challenges following a DUI incident in 2022, leading to financial difficulties.

Current whereabouts of Kim Soo-hyun

As of now, there is no verifiable information indicating that Kim Soo-hyun has left South Korea. His agency has not released any statements regarding his current location. Despite online speculation, there is no confirmed information about Kim Soo-hyun leaving South Korea.