Kim Soo Hyun’s representatives are drawing flak for their handling of age information while denying any romantic involvement with the late Kim Sae Ron, particularly concerning the time when she was allegedly a minor. This comes as the controversy surrounding the two actors continues with both sides presenting information and refuting claims made by the other.
Age Discrepancies Spark Debate
On April 2nd, Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team, LKB & Partners, announced they had filed an additional legal complaint against Kim Se Ui, who operates Hoverlab (also known as Garo Sero Research Institute), for violating the Anti-Stalking Act.
Alongside this legal action, Kim Soo Hyun’s side attempted to address ongoing suspicions by providing timestamps and Kim Sae Ron’s age at the time when photos released by Hoverlab were taken. However, inconsistencies in the ages reported by Kim Soo Hyun’s team have ignited further controversy.
LKB & Partners acknowledged that a video showing Kim Sae Ron cooking Dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken) at Kim Soo Hyun’s residence was indeed filmed in June 2018. They clarified the situation by stating:
The location was Kim Soo Hyun’s Seongsu-dong apartment, where he lived with his family. Kim Sae Ron visited during Kim Soo Hyun’s vacation, and his family was also present. The two were not in a romantic relationship at the time.
In their statement, Kim Soo Hyun’s legal representatives claimed that on June 20, 2018, Kim Sae Ron was 19 years old according to the old Korean age system.
However, based on her birth date of July 31, 2000, Kim Sae Ron was 17 years old at that time when using the international age system, as her birthday had not yet occurred in 2018.
It’s important to note that South Korea historically used a unique age calculation method where a person was considered one year old at birth, and another year was added every January 1st. This system also factored in whether a person’s birthday had passed within a given year for certain calculations. However, South Korea officially adopted the international age system for all legal and administrative purposes in June 2023.
Further discrepancies emerged regarding another photograph of Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron dressed in ski attire, taken on January 22, 2020. Kim Soo Hyun’s team stated that Kim Sae Ron was 21 years old at the time. In contrast, by international age standards, she was only 19 years old on that date.
![Kim Soo Hyun Takes Legal Action Against Garosero Research Institute for Stalking and Debunks Relationship Claims Actor **Kim Soo Hyun** and his agency, **Gold Medalist**, are taking a firm legal stance against the YouTube channel **Garosero Research Institute (HoverLab)** and its representative, **Kim Se Eui**. On April 2, 2025, they initiated legal proceedings for alleged violations of the anti-stalking law. This action follows previous legal steps, including an 11 billion KRW lawsuit, against the channel and the family of the late actress **Kim Sae Ron**. **Kim Soo Hyun** and **Gold Medalist** have presented evidence to counter the claims made by **Garosero Research Institute**, asserting that the information shared by the channel is false. ## Debunking Garosero Research Institute's Claims **Garosero Research Institute's False Claim:** "Due to **Kim Soo Hyun's** arrogant attitude, I have no choice but to reveal it. If he does not acknowledge his relationship with a minor, I will continue to release other photos one by one." **Fact Check:** "**Kim Sae Ron** moved to an apartment in Haengdang-dong, Seoul, in January 2020. These two photos were taken in 2020, and they have nothing to do with a relationship involving a minor." **Garosero Research Institute's False Claim:** "What do you think happened when a minor drank soju at 11:20 PM? Are you saying all they did was drink? Is that it?" **Fact Check:** "It is true that this was taken in June 2018. The location is **Kim Soo Hyun’s** apartment in Seongsu-dong, where he lived with his family. **Kim Sae Ron** was visiting during **Kim Soo Hyun’s** vacation, and his family was also present. At that time, the two were not in a romantic relationship." **Garosero Research Institute's False Claim:** "According to netizens, the ski outfits worn by the two are products from Descente Japan, meaning this photo was taken between 2015 and 2016." **Fact Check:** "On this day, they went to the ski resort as part of a group outing with **Gold Medalist** employees, and a group photo (taken on 2020.01.22) also exists." **Garosero Research Institute's False Claim:** "**Kim Soo Hyun** frequently visited the apartment. The family opposed the older actor **Kim Soo Hyun** meeting **Kim Sae Ron**, but **Kim Soo Hyun** persistently approached the underage **Kim Sae Ron**." **Fact Check:** "The man in the photo is not **Kim Soo Hyun**. **Kim Soo Hyun** has never been to the house where **Kim Sae Ron** lived. The statement, 'He came when the family wasn't home,' made by the relatives, is false." **Garosero Research Institute's False Claim:** "**Kim Sae Ron** was in middle school, around 16 years old. You're kissing a middle schooler, you pervert." **Fact Check:** "This photo was taken after 2019, and both individuals were adults at the time." **Garosero Research Institute's False Claim:** "That’s the face of a minor, not an adult! Look at **Kim Sae Ron’s** face. She still looks like a kid. Kissing a minor itself is a crime!" **Fact Check:** "This photo was taken on December 24, 2019, during a Christmas date. Both individuals were adults at the time." **Garosero Research Institute's False Claim:** "It sounds like he’s asking for more than just sleeping together. If they weren’t dating, then what kind of relationship was this? **Kim Sae Ron** was 17 years old at the time." **Fact Check:** "**Kim Soo Hyun** never sent any KakaoTalk messages in 2016 like the ones shown. Therefore, the sender of those messages is either a third party or they are fabricated. We request the original data be submitted to the investigative authorities immediately." ## Clarification on KakaoTalk Messages and Relationship Timeline **Late Kim Sae Ron's Family's Initial Claims via KakaoTalk Messages:** > Photo & Highlight: > > The photo uploaded to the story was taken after 2019. > > Relationship period: Summer 2019 – Fall 2020 > > Middle Panel > Text from message: > > > "There’s a 12-year age difference." > > > > **Kim Soo Hyun** (born 1988) > > > > **Kim Sae Ron** (born 2000) > > > > "We were 30 and 18 years old. Even if both were legal adults, a relationship between a 30-year-old and an 18-year-old is unsettling." > > Related Highlight: > > **Kim So Young** – Creative Director > > Term: Nov 2019 – Dec 2024 > > Company: **Gold Medalist** > > Role: Visual Directing > > Right Panel > Message: > > Mentions the termination of **Kim Sae Ron's** exclusive contract with the agency. > > Refers to internal company matters and concerns regarding her public image. > > Key Highlight: > > **Kim Sae Ron's** contract ended on November 30, 2022. **Garosero Research Institute's False Claim:** "That’s not how a man in a relationship behaves. It looks like they were acting like they were in love in 9th grade, and then gradually it became like a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. It seems **Kim Soo Hyun** liked her since middle school. Maybe **Kim Soo Hyun’s** ‘sexual preference’ was already directed toward older girls even back in high school." **Fact Check:** "The KakaoTalk messages between **Kim Soo Hyun** and **Kim Sae Ron** are real. In April 2018, **Kim Soo Hyun** was on a two-week vacation from the military and they chatted over KakaoTalk but did not meet in person. At the time, they were not in a romantic relationship. They only started dating after the summer of 2019." **L.K.B & Partners**, **Kim Soo Hyun's** legal representatives, stated that **Garosero Research Institute** broadcasted content titled '[Exclusive] **Kim Sae Ron's** Death Led by **Kim Soo Hyun** (6-Year Relationship Since **Kim Sae Ron** Was 15)' starting March 10, 2025, and continued daily broadcasts on the topic until March 31, 2025. The channel allegedly spread false information about **Kim Soo Hyun**, including private photos, videos, letters, and messages. **Gold Medalist** has firmly stated that the claims of a romantic relationship between **Kim Soo Hyun** and **Kim Sae Ron** during their teenage years are completely untrue. The agency has vowed to take strong legal action against **Garosero Research Institute** for the ongoing dissemination of false information and related activities. To know the latest developments about Kim Soo Hyun, Keep an eye on VvipTimes, and allow notifications from us to get instant updates on your device. Kim Soo Hyun, Garosero Research Institute, Kim Sae Ron, Gold Medalist, Legal Action](https://vviptimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/image-23-894x1024.webp "image 23")
