Kim Sae-ron’s Tragic Case: Unraveling the 700 million Won Proof Timeline, 900 million Won Debt Checks, Who Bears Responsibility and the Remaining Questions
New details about South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron’s financial struggles and agency conflicts have emerged through investigative reporting. SBS reporter Kang Kyung-yoon’s June 2025 blog post provides a comprehensive timeline of events from 2020 until the actress’s death in February 2025. The report clarifies misunderstandings about debts, agency relationships, and Kim Soo-hyun’s involvement.
2020 Contract and Initial Debt
Kim Sae-ron signed an exclusive contract with Gold Medalist agency in January 2020. On February 10, 2020, she received an interest-free loan of 650 million won (approximately $500,000) from the agency. The contract stated repayment would occur when the agreement ended. This debt would later become central to her financial crisis.
2022 DUI Accident and Penalties
On May 18, 2022, Kim caused a drunk driving accident in Seoul’s Gangnam district. The incident led to canceled drama and advertising contracts. Penalties totaled hundreds of millions of won. Just before her Gold Medalist contract expired on November 22, 2022, Kim signed a reimbursement agreement for 680 million won in remaining penalties. The deadline for repayment was December 31, 2023.
“The purpose has already been fully conveyed… please feel free to contact us” — Gold Medalist lawyer Kim Jong-bok to Run Entertainment CEO
Contract Termination and Debt Status
Kim’s contract with Gold Medalist officially ended on November 30, 2022. The agency classified the unpaid 680 million won as bad debt in December 2023. Though recorded as a financial loss, the debt remained legally valid. Gold Medalist maintained the right to pursue repayment despite the bad debt designation.
Comeback Attempts and New Management
After receiving a 20 million won ($15,000) fine for drunk driving in April 2023, Kim attempted a career comeback. She performed in small theater productions while avoiding major public appearances. In January 2024, she secretly signed with new agency Run Entertainment. Crucially, Kim only disclosed 200 million won in personal debts to Run Entertainment, not the 700 million won Gold Medalist obligation.
The “Lightsac Incident” and Debt Negotiations
On March 15, 2024, Gold Medalist sent a debt notice to Kim. Four days later, Kim messaged actor Kim Soo-hyun:
“I’m Sae-ron… If you ask for 700 million right away, please save me”
This message was forwarded to Soo-hyun’s agency since he had no financial ties to the debt. By March 23, Run Entertainment had contacted Gold Medalist to negotiate repayment. Kim reportedly told Run officials:
“I will try to recover. Thank you so much”
Social Media Post and Rising Tensions
On March 24, 2024, Kim posted then deleted a private photo with Kim Soo-hyun after three minutes. This “Lightsac Incident” occurred despite ongoing debt negotiations. In messages to her cousin, Kim explained:
“I posted because I wanted revenge… I’m sorry”
Run Entertainment reassured her:
“Don’t worry about anything… It’s all done well”
Debt Resolution and Final Months
By March 26, 2024, Run Entertainment and Gold Medalist reached a formal agreement on repayment terms. Gold Medalist lawyer Kim Jong-bok confirmed:
“You can reimburse in a reasonable way… considering actor Kim’s circumstances”
Year
Event
Amount
2020
Initial loan
650M won
2022
Accident penalties
680M won
2024
Personal debts
200M won
2024
Total resolved debt
1.2B+ won
The resolved debt included:
700 million won to Gold Medalist
200 million won in personal debts
300+ million won in accident penalties
Despite the settlement, Kim faced career setbacks. Her theater comeback was canceled, and a planned U.S. marriage in December 2024 failed. She reportedly attempted self-harm before her death in February 2025.
Misinformation and Legal Actions
After Kim’s death, false & unverified claims circulated online:
Incorrect dating timeline with Kim Soo-hyun (actual relationship: summer 2019–fall 2020)
Wrong age difference (12 years, not 14)
Inaccurate allegations about Gold Medalist directing Kim’s visuals
Kim Soo-hyun faced accusations of causing Kim’s death despite having no debt involvement Personally. His agency is currently pursuing legal action against misinformation spreaders, Kim Sae Ron’s family and the YouTube channel GaroSero with multiple lawsuits.
Kim Soo-hyun’s Decision to Remain Silent
During the height of the controversy, Kim Soo-hyun chose not to publicly defend himself despite facing intense scrutiny. He had opportunities to share personal details that could have shifted public opinion in his favor. Instead, he opted to address the matter formally through legal channels rather than engaging in media battles.
“He said he would hide as much as he could and prove the truth in the quietest way in the most public place.”
Rather than retaliating, Kim focused on protecting the truth while avoiding further harm to those involved. His approach emphasized restraint, choosing to present facts in a legal setting rather than through sensational media statements.
The Leaked Statements and Misinformation
After Kim Sae-ron’s passing, her private statements—some containing inaccuracies—were shared online by her family and through YouTube channels like Ga Se-yeon. These posts fueled rumors, including false claims about:
The duration of her relationship with Kim Soo-hyun
The nature of her financial disputes
The involvement of agencies in her personal struggles
“The fact that even the statement did not correspond to the facts in every way is not just a matter of obscuring the point, but also a reason why we should not make someone ‘responsible.’”
Legal Proceedings and the Search for Truth
With defamation lawsuits ongoing, the case is now being examined in court, where evidence will take precedence over speculation. Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team has emphasized that his silence was not an admission of guilt but a refusal to escalate the situation publicly.
“What is needed now is not anger, but discernment.”
The focus has shifted from emotional reactions to factual accountability, ensuring that the legal system determines responsibility rather than public opinion.
Key Takeaways:
Kim Soo-hyun avoided media confrontations, opting for legal resolutions.
Leaked statements contained inaccuracies, complicating public perception.
Court proceedings will determine the factual truth behind the case.
Reporter Kang emphasized: “It is an overly simplistic approach to focus only on the ‘700 million won’ debt as the decisive cause”. Legal proceedings regarding misinformation continue in South Korean courts.
Disclaimer: The timeline and facts contained in this article are based on a blog post (published on June 26, 2025) exclusively covered by reporter Kang Kyung-yoon. Some of the wording and arrangement have been adjusted according to the editor’s judgment, and the entire content can be found on Kang’s blog.
We use cookies to enhance your experience. By consenting, you allow us to process data like Browse behavior and unique IDs. Declining may affect some site features.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
