Kim Soo Hyun’s fans showed strong support by sending trucks near a press conference held by the late Kim Sae Ron’s family in Seoul. The event took place on May 7, 2025, in Samseong-dong. The family’s press conference aimed to share details about their ongoing dispute with the actor. Fans, including those from China, parked trucks with messages backing Kim Soo Hyun. This action has sparked mixed reactions online.
Chinese fans organized the trucks, which carried encouraging slogans for Kim Soo Hyun. Some messages read, “We will be together with actor Kim Soo Hyun!” and “Let’s be together for a long time as fan and actor.” Others showed strong support, saying, “We support your firm stance” and “Reveal the truth and prove Kim Soo Hyun’s innocence!”
One truck emphasized trust in the actor’s side of the story, stating:
“Consistent facts vs. manipulated evidence. Who is telling the truth? Kim Soo Hyun: Proper investigation, taking legal action, revealed clear facts. Garosero: denied forensics, presented false evidence, media play using threats, stalking. Don’t get caught up in lies and media play and look at the truth.”
Another message reassured Kim Soo Hyun, saying, “The efforts of the past 18 years will not be in vain. We will wait for you.” The trucks also included the phrase “We support ‘Knockoff’!”—referring to his recent legal actions against false claims.
Fans also voiced support for Kim Soo Hyun’s upcoming drama, Knockoff. Some messages urged for a “proper investigation” to “prove Kim Soo Hyun’s innocence.” They accused the YouTube channel Garosero of presenting “false evidence” and using “media play.”
Kim Sae Ron’s family has been in a public dispute with Kim Soo Hyun since her passing on February 16, 2025. They claim the actor had a relationship with her when she was a minor, starting in 2015 when she was 15. They released KakaoTalk messages from 2016 as evidence. One message from Kim Sae Ron said, “I gave up breakfast and dinner to sleep all day.. Isn’t it fascinating?” Kim Soo Hyun replied, “Oh you’re not feeling well ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ Are you feeling a bit better now?”
“This is Bu Ji Seok, representative attorney of the law firm BUYOU, acting as the legal representative for the bereaved family of the late Kim Sae Ron. Recently, the private life of the late Kim Sae Ron has been recklessly exposed almost daily, leading to baseless speculation and criticism directed at the bereaved family.”
Kim Soo Hyun has denied these claims. At a press conference on March 31, 2025, he said he only dated Kim Sae Ron for a year between 2019 and 2020, when she was an adult. He called the leaked messages “doctored” and filed a lawsuit worth 11 billion KRW against Kim Sae Ron’s family and Garosero. His agency, Goldmedalist, also denied allegations of pressuring Kim Sae Ron over a debt.
“I did not date her when she was a minor. Except for the fact that both of us were actors, our relationship was just like that of any other ordinary couple.”
The support trucks have caused a stir online. Some netizens criticized the move, calling it insensitive given the serious nature of the allegations. One user on X wrote, “Like… how cruel to send a support truck in a serious case like this?” Others questioned the fans’ dedication, with one saying, “With this, netizens couldn’t understand why they would go this far to support him.”
Kim Sae Ron was a rising star known for films like A Brand New Life and The Man from Nowhere. Her career faced challenges after a 2022 drunk-driving incident, which led to a fine of 20 million KRW. She joined Goldmedalist, co-founded by Kim Soo Hyun’s relative, in 2020 but left in 2022. Her family claims the agency isolated her and pursued legal action over her debts.
“The reason the family initially had no choice but to disclose the fact that Kim Soo Hyun had been in a relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor was to file a lawsuit against YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, who circulated false information.”
Kim Soo Hyun’s career has taken a hit. Brands like Prada and Dinto ended partnerships with him. Disney+ paused his drama Knock-Off due to the controversy. On March 30, 2025, he canceled a fan meeting in Taiwan. His legal team argues the evidence against him is manipulated, citing forensic reports.
The press conference on May 7, 2025, was led by attorney Bu Ji Seok. He promised to reveal “crucial details” about Kim Soo Hyun. The family’s legal actions target both the actor and YouTuber Lee Jin Ho for defamation. They say they want to restore Kim Sae Ron’s image. The YouTube channel Hoverlab, also known as Garosero, has released videos and photos, including one from 2018, showing Kim Soo Hyun at Kim Sae Ron’s home.
“If they weren’t dating, then I would like to ask Kim Soo-hyun myself, what relationship they had. If [Kim Soo-hyun] keeps saying that he didn’t date her as a minor, then did he sexually groom her?”
Fans remain vocal in their support. A truck message read, “The efforts of the past 18 years will not be in vain. We will wait for you.” They believe Kim Soo Hyun is a victim of “cyberbullying.” However, critics argue the trucks overshadow the family’s grief. The controversy has raised questions about how South Korea treats celebrities in crisis.
Kim Soo Hyun’s press conference in March 2025 drew heavy criticism. Experts called it “insincere.” Attorney Lee Don-ho said, “There was no core message.” Netizens mocked his emotional display, with one X post stating, “He showed up not as a human, but as an actor, those are crocodile tears.”
“I expected a sincere apology from Kim Soo-hyun, but there was none offered to the bereaved family.”
The dispute continues to unfold in court. Kim Soo Hyun’s team insists on a thorough investigation. The family’s press conference aimed to present new evidence, but details remain unclear. Public sentiment is divided, with some supporting the actor and others backing Kim Sae Ron’s family. The case highlights the intense scrutiny faced by South Korean stars.
