Kim Sae-ron’s Family Accuses Kim Soo-hyun’s Attorney of Media Manipulation

The family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron has called for patience as they await investigation results, accusing attorney Go Sang-rok, who represents actor Kim Soo-hyun, of manipulating media coverage in the ongoing controversy surrounding the relationship between the two celebrities.

Attorney Ji-seok Boo from BUYOU Law Firm, representing Kim Sae-ron’s family, issued a statement on Sunday urging the public to “remain calm and wait for the investigation results” rather than engaging with what they described as baseless allegations.

“Attorney Go, after missing the word ‘military’ in the memo, is now framing the family as fabricators,” Boo stated. “The investigative authorities are expected to announce their findings soon, and we urge everyone to stop making unfounded allegations until then.”

The dispute stems from allegations that surfaced last March claiming Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron when she was still a minor. Kim Soo-hyun has consistently denied these allegations, holding a press conference where he insisted, “We started dating after she became an adult.” Kim Sae-ron’s family, however, maintains that the relationship began when she was underage.

According to Boo, the controversy intensified when SBS’s current affairs program “Curious Stories Y” approached the family for an interview on November 8, with only six days remaining before the scheduled November 14 broadcast. The production team had already completed an interview with Kim Soo-hyun’s representatives.

After deliberation and consulting with investigative authorities, the family agreed to be interviewed on November 10. During this interview, they provided materials they claim prove Kim Sae-ron had dated Kim Soo-hyun while she was a minor. Among these materials was a memo reportedly written by Kim Sae-ron on September 28, 2017, which included phrases such as, “Can’t I say I want to spend every remaining day with you?” and “Oppa, it’s not just because you’re going to the military.”

The situation took an unexpected turn when the family was informed that the broadcast had been canceled just two days before it was scheduled to air. Adding to the controversy, Attorney Go allegedly claimed on his YouTube channel that the word “military” did not appear in the memo provided by the family, suggesting potential fabrication of evidence.

After the September 28, 2017 memo containing the word “military” was confirmed, Attorney Go reportedly accused the family of fabricating a second version of the document. Attorney Boo countered this claim, stating, “Because Attorney Go failed to notice the word ‘military’ due to his own oversight, he mistakenly accused the family of fabrication.”

The timing of the disputed memo is particularly significant as it could establish the timeline of the relationship between the two actors. Kim Soo-hyun, one of South Korea’s most prominent actors known for hits like “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” and “My Love from the Star,” served his mandatory military service from 2017 to 2019.

Kim Sae-ron, who began her career as a child actress and gained recognition for her roles in “The Man from Nowhere” and “A Brand New Life,” passed away earlier this year, adding a tragic dimension to the ongoing dispute.

The controversy has captured significant public attention in South Korea, where relationships between minors and adults, particularly in the entertainment industry, face intense scrutiny. Age of consent laws and the protection of young performers remain contentious issues in the Korean entertainment landscape.

As both sides continue to present contradicting narratives, the impending investigation results are expected to provide clarity on the timeline of the relationship and potentially resolve the dispute that has engulfed these two prominent figures in Korean entertainment.