On March 31, 2025, Kim Soo Hyun, one of South Korea’s biggest stars, stepped into the spotlight for the first time since a major controversy involving his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron shook his career. The press conference, held in Seoul, was an emotional moment for the actor. He broke down in tears, denied claims of dating Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor, and apologized to fans and colleagues affected by the fallout. Now, a surprising twist has emerged—his Instagram followers, which had been dropping fast, showed a small but noticeable increase on April 1, 2025. Could this mean fans are starting to forgive him? Here’s everything you need to know about this unexpected shift.
The press conference came after weeks of heavy criticism. It all started when Kim Sae Ron’s family and a YouTube channel called Garosero Research Institute claimed the actor had dated her starting at age 15, a serious accusation that sparked outrage. Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, first denied the rumors but later admitted the two had dated briefly between 2019 and 2020, when she was an adult. The actor himself stayed silent until the March 31 event, where he insisted their relationship was legal and short-lived, lasting about a year around four years ago. He also called out the evidence against him—like text messages and photos—as fake or twisted.
Fans and the public had mixed feelings about his words. Some saw his tears as genuine and felt sorry for him. Others weren’t convinced, calling it a performance to dodge blame. Posts on X showed this split—some called it “crocodile tears,” while others, including fans in Brazil, rallied behind him with support trucks and hashtags. But one thing was clear: his career took a hit. Big brands like Prada and Dinto dropped him, and his upcoming Disney+ drama Knock Off faced boycott calls, putting millions in fines on the line.
Before the press conference, Kim Soo Hyun’s Instagram was bleeding followers. He started March with over 21 million, but by late March, that number had crashed by nearly 1 million, landing at just over 20 million. The drop was steady—thousands unfollowed him daily as the scandal grew. Then, on April 1, something changed. Data from Social Blade, a site that tracks social media stats, showed a small gain in followers. For the first time in over 20 days, more people followed him than unfollowed. It wasn’t a huge jump, but it stood out after such a long slide.
So, what’s behind this uptick? It’s hard to pin down exactly. The press conference might have swayed some fans who believed his side of the story. His emotional apology could have struck a chord with those who felt he’d been unfairly attacked. On X, a few users noted that the media tide seemed to shift slightly, with Kim Sae Ron’s family losing some support after their own press conference on March 27, where they shared private chats from 2016. Others think it’s just a blip—loyal fans sticking by him despite the storm.
The numbers tell a dramatic tale. On March 9, before the scandal exploded, Kim Soo Hyun had 21,263,988 followers. By March 13, he’d lost nearly 700,000, hitting 20,566,587. The biggest single-day drop was 494,129 on March 13, right after Garosero released photos of him kissing Kim Sae Ron on the cheek. The slide continued—84,692 gone on March 14, 52,976 on March 15, and so on. By March 27, he was down to 20.2 million. Then, on April 1, the trend flipped, with a net gain that caught everyone off guard.
This doesn’t mean the storm’s over. Kim Soo Hyun still faces lawsuits from Kim Sae Ron’s family, who blame him for her death in February 2025, ruled a suicide at age 24. His agency has filed a 12 billion won defamation suit against her family and Garosero, claiming the accusations are lies. Brands are still wary, and Knock Off’s future hangs in the balance. But the Instagram bump hints that some fans might be giving him a second chance.
Public reaction remains a mixed bag. On X, one user wrote, “His press conference backfired—he’s a laughingstock now,” while another said, “Kim Sae Ron’s family finally has the media, but Kim Soo Hyun’s still got fans.” Internationally, outlets like TMZ slammed him, but his core supporters haven’t fully abandoned him. Whether this follower increase grows into a real turnaround or fades fast depends on what happens next—more evidence, court rulings, or maybe just time.
For now, Kim Soo Hyun’s Instagram sits at just over 20 million followers. It’s a far cry from his peak, but that tiny uptick on April 1 shows not everyone’s ready to write him off yet. Is it a sign of forgiveness or just a pause in the backlash? Only the days ahead will tell.
