According to DispatchKim Soo Hyun appeared with his lawyer at a hotel to address the ongoing controversy surrounding his ties with Kim Sae Ron. The 30-minute press conference saw the actor visibly emotional, at times pausing to compose himself between statements.

“It was cowardly and selfish, and I accept the fallout,” Kim Soo Hyun said, referring to his 2024 decision to deny the relationship after Kim Sae Ron posted a photo of the two on social media. He said at the time, he was filming the drama “Queen of Tears” and said the denial was intended to protect his colleagues and the production team.

“If I could go back, I’d still make the same decision,” he admitted. “But as an individual, I now bear the consequences of that denial.”

Kim Soo Hyun clarified that their relationship did not begin when Kim Sae Ron was underage and denied ever pressuring her over financial matters or mistreating her emotionally. He described their relationship as a typical romantic connection between two people.

“We had a good relationship, like any other couple,” he said. “But after we broke up, we didn’t stay in touch—it became awkward.”

Fighting back tears, Kim Soo Hyun said he hoped the public would hear his side of the story. He accused Kim Sae Ron’s family and the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute of distorting private messages to damage his reputation.

“They threatened me to admit to something that wasn’t true,” he said. “But I didn’t lie—and I cannot admit to what I didn’t do.”

Kim Soo Hyun described the past few weeks as “living in hell,” adding: “Every day I feared what Garo Sero would post next. I just ask that people listen to me—just once.”

The scandal erupted on March 10 when Garo Sero Institute—also known as Hoverlab—aired an interview with a woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt. She alleged that the actress and Kim Soo Hyun had dated for six years, starting when Kim Sae Ron was just 15.

The late actress’ family later accused Kim Soo Hyun of demanding repayment of 700 million won (US$476,969), which they say contributed to her distress before her death. They claimed the money had been provided by Kim Soo Hyun and his agency Gold Medalist to help her manage the fallout from her 2022 DUI incident, which significantly harmed her career.

Gold Medalist has denied all allegations of underage dating, stating that the relationship occurred between mid-2019—after Kim Sae Ron became an adult—and late 2020. The agency also confirmed that it had filed legal action against Garo Sero Institute and the individual claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt.

Despite the denials, the controversy has severely impacted Kim Soo Hyun’s public image. He has lost major brand endorsements, seen a steep drop in social media followers, and reportedly relinquished his title as South Korea’s highest-paid actor.

Kim Soo Hyun, one of the nation’s top stars, is internationally recognized for his roles in hit dramas such as “Dream High,” “Moon Embracing the Sun,” “My Love from the Star,” “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” and “Queen of Tears.”

Kim Sae Ron was found dead in her Seoul home on Feb. 16. Authorities ruled out foul play, and her funeral was held on Feb. 19. She gained international acclaim with her role in the 2009 film “A Brand New Life,” becoming the youngest South Korean actress to attend the Cannes Film Festival. She was also the youngest nominee for Best Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

Her promising career, however, declined after her 2022 DUI scandal, which resulted in the loss of several roles and endorsement deals.