One of South Korea’s biggest Hallyu stars, Kim Soo-hyun, is in the spotlight once again — but this time, it’s not for his hit dramas. The 37-year-old actor is embroiled in a high-profile legal battle tied to the late actress Kim Sae-ron, a case that has shaken both Korean entertainment circles and international K-drama fandom.
For the first time in six months, Kim publicly addressed the controversy, which has drawn intense media attention in South Korea and abroad. Reports suggest the actor has been coping with stress through solitary hiking trips, while his legal team released roughly 150 letters he wrote to a former girlfriend during military service to counter claims that he had a relationship with Kim Sae-ron when she was underage.
At the center of the dispute are allegations by Kim Sae-ron’s family, who claim the actress had a six-year relationship with Kim beginning in her teenage years. They have presented photos, letters, and text messages as evidence. Kim has denied the accusations, filing an $8.5 million defamation lawsuit and lodging criminal complaints under South Korea’s cybercrime law.
Back in March, Kim held a press conference where he strongly denied any connection between his actions or his agency’s handling of Kim Sae-ron’s financial struggles and her tragic passing earlier this year. He also cast doubt on the authenticity of some text messages released by her family.
Kim Sae-ron, once hailed as one of South Korea’s most promising young actresses, was found dead in her Seoul home on February 16. Her death sparked widespread grief and fueled debate about mental health, privacy, and the pressures faced by stars in the Korean entertainment industry.
The case underscores the challenges of being a Hallyu celebrity: private disputes can quickly become national scandals, amplified by both traditional media and online fandom communities worldwide. For global fans of Korean dramas like It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and My Love from the Star, Kim Soo-hyun’s situation serves as a sobering reminder of the personal costs behind Korea’s booming entertainment exports.
