Kim Sae Ron’s Aunt Shares New Details in Interview About the Late Actress’s ₩700M Debt Struggles

An individual close to the late actress Kim Sae Ron, identified as her “aunt,” has shared new details about the actress’s ₩700 million KRW (approximately $483,000 USD) debt. The “aunt,” a long-time family friend, spoke with Korean media outlet THE FACT, revealing that the debt stemmed from compensation paid to the producers of the 2023 K-Drama “Bloodhounds” following Kim Sae Ron’s DUI incident.

The Source of the Debt

The “aunt” clarified that the ₩700 million KRW debt was the amount GOLD MEDALIST paid to Studio N, the production company behind “Bloodhounds,” to cover the damages caused by Kim Sae Ron’s DUI. She stated that Kim Sae Ron told her family that Kim Soo Hyun had “personally lent her the money.” Initially, the production company demanded ₩7.00 billion KRW (approximately $4.83 million USD) in damages, but after Kim Sae Ron’s personal plea, the amount was reduced to ₩700 million KRW.

“After the DUI accident, Sae Ron covered all costs for damages, including the broken transformer and repairs to nearby shops, with her own money and without the assistance of her agency. She exhausted every possible resource to repay what she could, but she had no means to pay off the remaining amount. From what I know, the financial loss incurred by the production company of the Netflix show Bloodhounds, due to her DUI accident was roughly around ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD). While this amount was officially recorded as having been repaid by the agency, according to Sae Ron, she said that Kim Soo Hyun personally lent her the money.”

GOLD MEDALIST’s Actions

The “aunt” criticized GOLD MEDALIST’s decision to send a certified document demanding repayment, calling it “excessive.” She suggested that the agency may have distanced themselves from Kim Sae Ron due to her diminished chances of a comeback.

“It is undeniable that Sae Ron was at fault for the DUI accident. However, sending a certified document with the names of three law firm attorneys, demanding that a young woman without the immediate financial means repay ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD), was excessive. They may have determined that her chances of making a comeback were slim and possibly wanted to completely distance themselves from any lingering negative associations. As for Kim Soo Hyun, I’m not sure whether he initially understood Sae Ron’s situation or not. But she once told me that he had a disagreement with his cousin, [CCO Lee Sa Rang], over differing opinions on the repayment demand.”

Relationship with Kim Soo Hyun

The “aunt” addressed the conflicting reports about Kim Sae Ron’s relationship with Kim Soo Hyun. She confirmed that they had “mutual feelings for each other” and that Kim Soo Hyun had reassured Kim Sae Ron’s parents, saying he would “take full responsibility for her.”

“What parent would lie about their deceased child? I found out about their relationship right before she transferred to GOLD MEDALIST. While the age gap was too large to call it a typical romantic relationship, what is certain is that they had mutual feelings for each other. When Sae Ron left YG Entertainment for GOLD MEDALIST, she insisted they had a special connection. Still, no matter how famous he was, the significant age difference at the time naturally made her parents concerned, and they had no choice but to oppose it. The most heartbreaking thing is that we couldn’t fully embrace and support Sae Ron through her pain. As for disappointment, I cannot even begin to express how let down we feel by GOLD MEDALIST. Despite her parents’ opposition, they signed Sae Ron. Kim Soo Hyun personally reassured her parents, saying, ‘I will take full responsibility for her, so don’t worry.’”

Petition for Privacy Protection

The “aunt” concluded by urging the public to participate in a petition calling for stricter regulations against YouTubers who violate celebrities’ privacy.

“The petition runs until March 26, and I hope many people participate so that this can serve as an opportunity to strengthen the current lenient punishments. Although Sae Ron is no longer with us, I sincerely hope that, in the future, no more innocent lives are lost due to reckless and irresponsible invasions of privacy.”

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Disclaimer: All data and facts presented in this article are sourced from trusted outlets believed to be accurate at the time of writing. However, we cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. For further verification, please cross-check with the sources listed below.

Source: THE FACT, Hankyung and theqoo

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