Netizens are calling for the boycott and cancellation of Korean star Kim Soo Hyun, 37, following allegations that he was in a relationship with late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor.
Sae Ron was found dead in her home in an apparent suicide on February 16. She was 24.
YouTube channel, HoverLab, better known as Garosero Research, posted a video on Mar 10, claiming the two were in a secret six-year relationship which began when Saw Ron was 15.
His agency, Gold Medalist, has denied the claims, calling them “baseless” and said it will take legal action against those spreading rumours.
Hoverlab has since released more evidence, which included intimate photos of the pair and other materials said to be provided by Sae Ron’s family.
One of the pictures showed the actor wearing glasses while kissing Sae Ron on the cheek.
The other was a love letter Soo Hyun allegedly wrote to Sae Ron during his military service.
The letter, dated June 9, 2018, is titled: “I Love You, Kim Sae Ron (A Letter from Private Kim Soo Hyun)” and contains handwritten words of affection.
Soo Hyun enlisted in 2017, while Sae Ron was just a 17-year-old high school student at the time.
In their exchanged letters, the actor referred to himself as “Private Kim”, while the Sae Ron called herself Seronero. Soo Hyun also used this nickname to address her.
Hoverlab also suggested the actress chose to end her life on Soo Hyun’s birthday as she was under pressure to repay Gold Medalist, which she was previously signed to, 700 million won (S$643K) in compensation related to her drunk driving incident in 2022.
Sae Ron left the agency in 2022 following the accident and retreated from the public eye.
She sparked backlash when she posted and quickly deleted a selfie with Soo Hyun showing their faces pressed against each other in March 2024, at the height of Soo Hyun’s drama Queen Of Tears’ popularity.
Then, the agency denied any romantic links between the pair, saying it had “no idea what her intentions were” in uploading the photo.
Soo Hyun has come under fire following the recent revelations by Hoverlab, with many calling for his boycott and cancellation.
The star has reportedly lost more than 400K followers on Instagram and several brand deals are at risk.
Brands have also distanced themselves from Soo Hyun, removing ads and halting promotional activities featuring the actor.