A deeply personal letter penned by actress Kim Sae Ron to her close friend, the late Moonbin of ASTRO, has been made public, offering a glimpse into her deep sorrow and the struggles she faced after his sudden passing in 2023. The letter, revealed by the YouTube channel Hoverlab (Garo Sero Research Institute) on March 27, 2025, was written on April 27, 2023, shortly after Moonbin’s tragic death on April 19, 2023.
Kim Sae Ron and Moonbin shared a close bond, having been under the same agency and even co-starring in the web drama ‘To Be Continued.’ Following Moonbin’s passing, Kim Sae Ron had quietly expressed her sorrow by changing her social media profile picture to an image of a dandelion.
A Message of Loss and Regret
In her heartfelt letter, Kim Sae Ron expressed the immense pain she felt after learning about Moonbin’s death. She wrote:
I’m writing a new diary entry. Bin, I miss you. What should I even say? I was in so much pain that I wanted to choose death. And then I heard the news about you.
She reflected on the difficult decision Moonbin must have faced, stating:
I know better than anyone how terrifying and lonely that decision must have been, so I couldn’t even ask why. That day, for some reason, I really wanted to see you. I wanted to call, but I didn’t. And I regret that. Maybe I couldn’t have stopped you, but could I have delayed it—just one more day, and then another? I try to endure by believing that if I live today, tomorrow will come, and I wonder if you could have done the same. My heart wavers so much. Every day, every moment, I think about following you.
Kim Sae Ron also shared her feelings of regret and loneliness:
I regret that I was too overwhelmed to be there for you more. I feel lonely, but if you ever feel lonely too, please visit me in my dreams. I want to grieve for you, to talk about you, and to honor you as much as I want, but I was afraid that my existence would somehow tarnish your passing. Even now, I’m scared.
Struggles Within the Industry
The letter also touched upon Kim Sae Ron’s own challenges and the pressures she faced within the entertainment industry:
The industry, the media, and all these unclear criticisms about me not moving forward anymore, they make me feel disappointed and even hate myself. I chose this life, this career, so I have to take responsibility. My family is watching me, my fans are watching me. But you must have felt the same, right? The pain that began the moment we achieved our dreams, it wasn’t just me, was it? I wasn’t the only one who suffered in silence, rotting away inside. You must have endured every single day, too. We should have just let it all out and cried together at least once.
A Final Farewell
Kim Sae Ron concluded her emotional letter with a message of love and hope for her departed friend:
Rest peacefully, Bin. No matter where you go, I know your path will be bright and radiant. I respect and support everything about you—you were the best. I’m sorry I couldn’t praise you more and hold you in my arms. I love you, Bin. See you soon. I’ll be waiting. — Your friend and little sister of 18 years.
Recent Claims and Agency Response
The release of this letter comes amidst recent claims made by Kim Sae Ron’s family through Garo Sero Research Institute regarding her past relationship with actor Kim Soo Hyun. They alleged a six-year relationship between 2015 and 2021, starting when Kim Sae Ron was 15 years old. Her family also claimed that Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, pressured her to pay a significant sum in damages.
The report also detailed Kim Sae Ron’s alleged plea to Kim Soo Hyun for more time to pay the damages after receiving a legal notice, while she was reportedly working part-time. According to the claims, Kim Soo Hyun did not respond to her messages.
Gold Medalist initially denied any relationship between the two actors but later revised their statement, clarifying:
Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun dated from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after she became an adult. The claim that he dated her while she was a minor is false.
