South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun faced a storm of attention after his emotional press conference on March 31, 2025, in Seoul, where he addressed allegations tied to his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron. A brief summary: Kim Soo Hyun admitted to dating Kim Sae Ron for about a year around 2020 but firmly denied claims that their relationship began when she was a minor. The press conference came after weeks of back-and-forth accusations following Kim Sae Ron’s death by suicide in February 2025, with her family alleging a relationship started when she was underage. What really turned heads, though, was how US outlet TMZ covered it—and Korean netizens couldn’t stop talking about it.
Just hours after the event, TMZ dropped a headline that hit like a punch: “I Never Had Sex With Kim Sae-ron When She Was A Minor!” Paired with a photo of Kim Soo Hyun speaking at the presser, it spread fast across Korean forums like Instiz, lighting up comment sections with reactions ranging from shock to amusement. The bluntness of the title, especially the use of “minor,” grabbed everyone’s attention and sparked a wave of chatter online.
Talk about a headline that stops you in your tracks! TMZ didn’t hold back, and it’s no surprise it got people buzzing. When a star like Kim Soo Hyun, known for hits like Queen of Tears, steps into a mess this big, every word matters. Let’s break down what happened, how TMZ framed it, and why Korean netizens are still reeling.
The Press Conference That Started It All
On March 31, 2025, Kim Soo Hyun stood before the media in Seoul, dressed in a black suit, visibly emotional as he spoke. This was his first public appearance since the controversy erupted on March 10, when Kim Sae Ron’s family, alongside YouTube channel Hoverlab, claimed he dated her starting at age 15—when he was 27. Kim Sae Ron, a former child actress, passed away on February 16, 2025, at 24, with police ruling it a suicide. Her family pointed fingers at Kim Soo Hyun, alleging their relationship and his agency’s actions contributed to her struggles.
At the press conference, Kim Soo Hyun didn’t dodge the past. He confirmed he dated Kim Sae Ron but said it was only from 2019 to 2020, when she was 19—legally an adult in South Korea. Breaking down in tears, he said:
“I never dated her when she was a minor. Many people are suffering because of me, and it breaks my heart that the late actress isn’t able to rest in peace.”
He also tackled claims that his agency, Gold Medalist, pressured Kim Sae Ron over a debt linked to her 2022 DUI incident, playing an audio recording from a year ago to show it was just procedural, not personal. Still, netizens watching live weren’t impressed—many slammed his tears and demeanor as performative, calling him out online for not taking full accountability.
TMZ Drops a Bombshell Headline
Enter TMZ, the US tabloid known for its no-filter style. On March 31, 2025, at 6:52 AM PDT, they posted their take: “South Korean Actor Kim Soo-hyun Breaks Down While Denying He Groomed Kim Sae-ron”.
The real kicker, though, was the headline that made it to Korean forums: “I Never Had Sex With Kim Sae-ron When She Was A Minor!” It was raw, direct, and didn’t mince words—classic TMZ.
The article itself was short but packed a punch. It noted Kim Soo Hyun’s emotional denial of grooming allegations, mentioned the family’s claims of a 2016 relationship (when Kim Sae Ron was 15), and highlighted her death in February. It also pointed out South Korea’s age of consent is 16, adding a legal angle to the story. The photo of Kim Soo Hyun at the podium, looking shaken, only fueled the fire.
When this hit Instiz, a popular Korean forum, netizens couldn’t believe their eyes. The comments poured in fast:
“Wow, that headline…”
“They just blatantly wrote ‘Never Had—’. This is America, for real.”
“A minor ~”
“Wow, look at the wording… That’s brutal.”
Some praised TMZ for cutting through the noise, while others cringed at how it made the scandal feel even messier—and more global.
Why the Reactions Were So Strong
So why did this headline hit so hard? For one, TMZ’s choice of words—“sex” and “minor”—zeroed in on the darkest part of the allegations with a bluntness rare in Korean media. In South Korea, entertainment news often softens edges to protect stars’ images, but TMZ went straight for the jugular. That contrast shocked netizens used to more guarded reporting.
The word “minor” also carried weight. Kim Sae Ron’s family shared KakaoTalk messages from 2016, when she was 15, as proof of a relationship. Kim Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist insist those are fake or misinterpreted, claiming the photo attached was from 2019. The legal age of adulthood in Korea is 19, but the age of consent was 13 until 2023 (now 16). Since no hard evidence of anything illegal has surfaced, TMZ’s phrasing felt like it jumped ahead, assuming a narrative that’s still under debate.
Netizens also found it embarrassing—here was a South Korean scandal, usually kept in tight-knit K-entertainment circles, blasted onto an American stage with zero subtlety. One commenter summed it up: “Ah, this is so embarrassing.” Another said, “That’s intense,” reflecting how TMZ turned a local fire into an international blaze.
The Bigger Fallout
The press conference and TMZ’s coverage didn’t just stir online chatter—it rippled through Kim Soo Hyun’s career. His upcoming Disney+ drama Knock Off got delayed, and brands like Prada and Dinto dropped him fast. A petition for a “Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Act” even gained over 20,000 signatures in a day, showing how deep the public backlash runs.
Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team isn’t sitting still either. They’ve filed criminal complaints against Kim Sae Ron’s family and Hoverlab for defamation, plus a civil lawsuit for 12 billion won in damages. The family hasn’t responded to his latest statements, leaving the fight far from over.
This whole saga shows how fast a star can fall—and how a single headline can amplify it. TMZ’s brutal take didn’t just report the news; it shaped how people saw it, especially in Korea, where netizens are still buzzing about its boldness. Whether you think it went too far or hit the mark, one thing’s clear: Kim Soo Hyun’s story isn’t fading quietly.
