A family member of the late actress Kim Sae Ron reportedly attempted to take their own life amid severe emotional distress stemming from an ongoing legal dispute with actor Kim Soo Hyun.
According to New Daily on March 14, the family had planned to attend a group screening of Kim Sae Ron’s posthumous film 'Before We Knew' at CGV Cheongdam Cinecity in Gangnam, Seoul. However, a few days earlier, one family member attempted self-harm at home and was unable to attend the event.
A close acquaintance familiar with the family told the media, “The family’s only wish is for Kim Soo Hyun to acknowledge all facts and issue a sincere apology to the deceased.” The source added, “Instead, Kim Soo Hyun and his legal team have accused the family of spreading false information with fabricated evidence, causing them unbearable pain.”
The acquaintance further described the family’s prolonged struggles. “Two years ago, Kim Sae Ron was denied the truth about her relationship with Kim Soo Hyun. During the settlement of accident-related costs, the family suffered further due to actions taken by Kim Soo Hyun’s agency. Even after countless apologies, they are being portrayed as criminals, which is deeply distressing.”
The source noted that this was not the first suicide attempt by the family member and appealed, “This situation is extremely serious. All acts of blame and humiliation against the family must stop immediately.”
Kim Sae Ron was found dead at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on February 16 last year, the same day Kim Soo Hyun celebrated his 37th birthday. In March last year, the family publicly claimed through the YouTube channel Hoverlab that Kim Sae Ron had been in a five-year relationship with Kim Soo Hyun beginning when she was 15 years old in 2016. The family has sought recognition of the relationship and a sincere public apology from Kim Soo Hyun.
Kim Soo Hyun’s representatives have disputed this claim, stating that the relationship occurred only between the summer of 2019 and the fall of 2020, after Kim Sae Ron had reached adulthood.
Reports indicate that Kim Sae Ron experienced intense stress during her life, including being asked to pay 700 million KRW (approximately 538,000 USD) in penalties by her former agency, Gold Medalist, which also represented Kim Soo Hyun, following a drunk-driving accident in May 2022.
Kim Soo Hyun has filed a civil lawsuit seeking 12 billion KRW (approximately 9.2 million USD) in damages against the family and several media outlets. The family has responded by filing a countersuit against Kim Soo Hyun for alleged violations of the Child Welfare Act and false accusations.
The legal battle between the two parties continues. On March 13, Kim Soo Hyun reiterated his denial of underage dating allegations during a court session related to a separate damages lawsuit involving a cosmetics brand.
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