New evidence unveiled in Kim Soo-hyun grooming controversy, Kim Sae-ron’s family seeks apology

New evidence has emerged in the Kim Soo-hyun grooming controversy, as the family of late actor Kim Sae-ron released alleged KakaoTalk messages between the two actors from 2016. The chats were shared during a press conference on Thursday by Bu Ji-seok, attorney for the family, and Kim Se-ui, operator of far-right YouTube channel Hoverlab.

The messages reportedly show intimate conversations between Kim Soo-hyun, then 28, and Kim Sae-ron, who was 15 at the time. According to Bu, the content implies a relationship that either involved dating or amounted to sexual grooming.

Family Demands Apology

“If they were not in a romantic relationship, the messages suggest grooming,” Bu told reporters. “If Kim Soo-hyun denies dating her as a minor, he should clarify the nature of their relationship.”

Bu said they would stop releasing new material if Kim Soo-hyun issues an apology. However, he did not explain what kind of apology the family would accept.

The press conference follows a previous one held on March 17, a month after Kim Sae-ron was found dead at age 24 in her Seoul home. Her family claims she had been in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun from November 2015 to July 2021. Kim Soo-hyun’s agency Goldmedalist initially denied the relationship but later said it began when Kim Sae-ron was 19.

Timeline and Legal Action

Kim Sae-ron, born in 2000, debuted as a child actor in the 2009 film A Brand New Life. Her family began speaking out on March 10 through Hoverlab, stating the relationship began when she was 15. The YouTube channel has released photos and videos that it claims support their account.

Bu added that legal preparations delayed the disclosure of the KakaoTalk messages. On March 17, he filed a defamation complaint against YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, who had posted content about Kim Sae-ron. The family also plans to report Lee for stalking, although details remain unspecified.

Bu claimed Lee’s videos had a direct impact on Kim Sae-ron’s mental health, stating she had harmed herself multiple times after the uploads. This week, a man claiming to be her ex-boyfriend alleged that her family neglected her and refused to pay hospital bills. Bu dismissed the claims as false and said legal action is under consideration.

Hoverlab Responds and Presses On

Kim Se-ui, Hoverlab’s founder, said the channel would stop releasing further material if Kim Soo-hyun apologized. Still, he announced that more content would be revealed in a livestream scheduled for 7 p.m. that evening.

In prior broadcasts, Kim compared the situation to Korea’s “Nth Room” scandal, which involved large-scale digital sexual exploitation. He later clarified that the comparison reflected what he called Kim Soo-hyun’s “preposterous attitude,” not the scale of the crimes.

“We are not only seeking truth, but also justice,” Kim said. “We ask the public to stop excessive criticism—both toward the family and toward Kim Soo-hyun.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Goldmedalist had not commented on the press conference. A fan meeting in Taiwan, scheduled for March 30, was canceled due to Kim’s “schedules.” Streaming platform Disney+ has also delayed the release of Kim’s upcoming drama Knock-Off.

BY YOON SO-YEON, SHIN HA-NEE [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]