Kim Soo Hyun, one of South Korea’s biggest stars, faced a firestorm of controversy over his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron. On March 31, 2025, he stepped into the spotlight at a press conference in Seoul to address the rumors head-on. What happened next? He broke down in tears, and the internet exploded—not with sympathy, but with memes. Here’s everything you need to know about this emotional moment that’s taken over social media and what it means for the actor’s future.
The press conference was meant to be a serious affair. Kim Soo Hyun aimed to clear his name after weeks of allegations from Kim Sae Ron’s family and the YouTube channel Garosero Institute. They claimed he dated her when she was a minor and that his agency, Gold Medalist, pressured her over a debt, possibly contributing to her suicide on February 16, 2025. But instead of a quiet resolution, his tearful speech turned into a viral sensation, leaving fans and critics divided.
A Tearful Defense Goes Viral
Kim Soo Hyun walked into the Stanford Hotel in Seoul dressed in a sharp black suit, his face tense. Standing beside his lawyer, Kim Jong-bok, he delivered a heartfelt statement. He admitted to dating Kim Sae Ron but insisted it only happened between 2019 and 2020, when she was 19 and legally an adult—not a minor as alleged.
“Except for the fact that both of us were actors, our relationship was like any other ordinary couple. We dated with good feelings, and after some time, we broke up. After that, we couldn’t stay in touch the way we used to. Like any other couple, reaching out to an ex after a breakup is something one must approach with caution,” he said, his voice breaking.
He also tackled claims about a 700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD) debt tied to Kim Sae Ron’s 2022 DUI case. Her family said Gold Medalist forced her to repay fines they covered, adding to her distress. Kim Soo Hyun denied this flat-out.
“It is not true that she made a tragic choice because of me or my agency pressuring her over a debt,” he stated, tears streaming down his face.
The actor apologized to his fans, staff, and even Kim Sae Ron’s memory, saying he felt heartbroken that “the deceased may not be able to rest in peace.” He explained his earlier silence during the 2024 airing of his hit drama Queen of Tears, admitting he denied the relationship back then to protect the cast and crew.
“What would happen to the actors, the staff working hard day and night, and the production company who invested everything? I had so much to protect as the lead actor,” he said, wiping his eyes.
But as emotional as it was, the internet had other plans.
From Tears to TikTok: The Meme Frenzy Begins
Within hours, screenshots of Kim Soo Hyun’s crying face were everywhere. On platforms like X and TikTok, netizens turned his red eyes and trembling lips into comedy gold. Captions popped up fast: “Me when there’s no more fries,” “When the group chat turns on you,” and the savage “K-diddy is cooked.” TikTok edits paired his sobs with funny sound effects, while parody videos and AI voiceovers made it a full-on meme fest.
I had never seen people drinking water while crying until Kim Soo Hyun did his best! 💀
P.d.: I really love the way Cnetz don’t miss the opportunity to remember us how creative they can be with our “STAR #KimSooHyun” 🗑️🗑️🗑️ pic.twitter.com/qFmugUJuaK
Some fans stood by him, praising his raw honesty. One supporter wrote on X:
“He’s human, not a robot. Those tears were real, and he’s taking responsibility where he can.”
Others weren’t buying it. Critics called it a performance worthy of his Queen of Tears role, dubbing him the “King of Fake Tears.” A popular post on X summed it up:
“Perfect hairstyle, layered makeup, shedding fake tears, and suing the victim’s family to scare them. Apologizing to fans instead of her. Classic move.”
me when I see kim soohyun drink in the middle of crying and starts crying again pic.twitter.com/Vdpa9OLJFd
Behind the memes, the controversy runs deep. Kim Sae Ron’s family and Garosero Institute allege the relationship started in 2015, when she was 15 and he was 27. They’ve shared photos, videos, and KakaoTalk messages—some from 2016 and 2018—claiming he groomed her. Kim Soo Hyun called these “fabricated,” saying a tech analysis proved they were edited. His agency even confirmed a 2018 video of him eating at her place was real but insisted it was a friendly visit with his family present.
The public’s reaction? Mixed. Some Korean netizens on X questioned his timeline:
“If he wasn’t dating her in 2018, why send her letters from the military? Those tears don’t erase the evidence.”
Others mocked his polished look, saying he cared more about his image than the truth. Meanwhile, his legal team hit back hard, filing a 12 billion KRW ($8.1 million USD) lawsuit against Kim Sae Ron’s family and Garosero for defamation.
The fallout’s been brutal. Brands like Prada and Dinto Cosmetics dropped him, and Disney+ paused his upcoming show Knock-Off. Yet, oddly, his Instagram gained followers after the press conference, hinting some still support him.
What’s Next for Kim Soo Hyun?
Kim Soo Hyun vowed to fight the allegations, saying:
“I won’t ask for trust—I’ll prove it. I’ll take criticism for what I’ve done, but I can’t admit to things I didn’t do.”
His lawyer, Kim Jong-bok, added that the lawsuits aim to uncover the facts through legal channels. But with Garosero releasing more alleged evidence—like ski trip photos from 2018—the battle’s far from over.
For now, Kim Soo Hyun’s tears have left him both a punching bag and a punchline. Will they save his career or sink it? Only time will tell.
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