On Sunday, YouTuber Kim Se Ui from the Garosero Research Institute channel released an image reportedly taken from a video showing Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron, who was in 10th grade at the time, according to news site Nate.

Kim claimed the footage shows Kim Sae Ron cooking a chicken dish for the actor close to midnight. He also accused Kim Soo Hyun directly: “Do you not admit you are a pedophile? Do you remember where this video came from? At that time, Kim Sae Ron was in 10th grade. She cooked for you around midnight. At 1 a.m., you sang a song for her.”

The YouTuber also included hashtags implying the pair went on a trip to Alpensia, a ski resort in Gangwon Province, in 2015, when Kim Sae Ron was still underage.

The allegations emerged as Kim Soo Hyun is already facing criticism from the brother of late actress Sulli, who recently claimed the actor pressured her into filming an explicit scene that contributed to her emotional struggles and eventual suicide.

In response to the growing backlash, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, announced on Sunday that the actor would hold a press conference on March 31.

“Our legal representatives from LKB & Partners and actor Kim Soo Hyun will release an official statement,” the agency said, adding that “there will be no Q&A session beyond the provided statements.”

The controversy over Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron’s alleged relationship began when Hoverlab aired an interview on March 10 with the woman claiming to be the late actress’ aunt. She alleged that the two artists had been romantically involved for six years, beginning when Kim Sae Ron was 15.

Kim Sae Ron’s family later claimed that Kim Soo Hyun pressured the actress to repay 700 million won (US$481,626), a financial strain they say contributed to her struggles before her death at age 25. The disputed sum was allegedly provided by Kim Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist to help Kim Sae Ron manage the fallout from her 2022 DUI incident, which severely impacted her career.

Kim Sae Ron’ family has recently filed a legal complaint against actor Kim Soo Hyun, alleging that his actions played a role in her death.

Gold Medalist has denied the allegations of underage dating, stating that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron were only romantically involved between the summer of 2019—when she legally became an adult—and the autumn of 2020.

The company also filed a criminal complaint against Hoverlab operator Kim Se Ui and an unnamed individual claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt, accusing them of distributing private photos of the actor in violation of South Korea’s sexual crimes law.

Still, the controversy has had significant repercussions for Kim Soo Hyun, leading to a decline in his public image, the loss of major brand endorsements, and a sharp drop in social media followers. The actor has also reportedly lost his title as South Korea’s highest-paid actor amid the scandal.

South Korean actress Kim Sae Ron. Photo from Facebook

At 37, Kim Soo Hyun is one of South Korea’s most prominent actors, rising to international fame through hit dramas such as “Dream High,” “The 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, with authorities ruling out foul play. Her funeral was held on Feb. 19.

She gained global recognition as the youngest South Korean actress to attend the Cannes Film Festival for her role in the 2009 film “A Brand New Life” and was the youngest nominee for Best Actress at South Korea’s prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards. However, her career declined after her 2022 DUI incident, which led to the cancellation of multiple acting roles and endorsement deals.