Shocking Twist: Alleged Video Proof From Garo Sero Showing Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron’s Romantic Involvement Back in 2018, Directly Challenges His Public Statements of Denial at Press Conference
South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun is once again in the spotlight following a press conference on March 31, 2025, where he addressed long-standing rumors about his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron. The actor firmly denied dating her when she was a minor, stating their romance only began after she became an adult. However, just hours after his statement, the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute dropped a bombshellโa video they claim proves the two were together in 2018, when Kim Sae Ron was just 18 years old. Hereโs everything we know about this unfolding story.
Fans of Kim Soo Hyun, known for hit dramas like Queen of Tears and My Love from the Star, were hoping for clarity after months of speculation. Instead, this new evidence has reignited the controversy, leaving many questioning the timeline of their relationship. Letโs break it down.
Talk about a plot twist! Just when Kim Soo Hyun thought heโd put the rumors to rest, Garo Sero Research Institute swooped in with a video thatโs got everyone buzzing. Itโs short, itโs casual, and itโs raising big questions about what really happened between these two stars back in 2018. Whether youโre Team Kim or just here for the drama, this latest update is one you wonโt want to miss.
The Press Conference: Kim Soo Hyunโs Side
On March 31, 2025, Kim Soo Hyun stood before reporters to set the record straight. He insisted that his relationship with Kim Sae Ron, who tragically passed away in February 2025, only started after she turned 19โthe legal age of adulthood in South Korea.
โI only dated her when she was an adult. Any claims that I was with her when she was a minor are not true,โ Kim Soo Hyun said during the press conference.
His agency, Gold Medalist, has backed this up in earlier statements, claiming the pair dated from summer 2019 to fall 2020. Theyโve dismissed all allegations of an earlier romance as false and accused Garo Sero Research Institute of spreading lies. But the YouTube channel wasnโt about to let this slide.
The Video: What Does It Show?
Garo Sero Research Institute fired back with a video they say was filmed in 2018. In it, Kim Soo Hyun is seen eating a meal cooked by Kim Sae Ron. The clip is casual and lighthearted, with the two chatting about the food.
Kim Sae Ron: โHow is it?โ Kim Soo Hyun: โI havenโt tried it yet.โ Kim Sae Ron: โHurry and eat it!โ Kim Soo Hyun: โMmm.โ Kim Sae Ron: โIs it good?โ Kim Soo Hyun: โYeah. Firstlyโฆโ [Microwave beeps in the background] Kim Sae Ron: โHa! How ridiculous.โ Kim Soo Hyun: โThis chicken dishโฆโ
The video, an MP4 file sized at 14.2MB, has metadata showing it was edited on June 20, 2018, at 11:20 p.m. Garo Sero says this proves the two were close well before Kim Soo Hyun claims their relationship began.
To add more weight to their claim, Garo Sero pointed to an interview Kim Sae Ron gave on June 20, 2018, uploaded by the Korea Cooking Academy. In it, she talked about taking cooking classes and making meals at home for the people around her. The timing lines up perfectly with the video, suggesting she might have cooked the dish Kim Soo Hyun was eating that same day.
Why 2018 Matters
If the video is legit, it places Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron together in June 2018โwhen she was 18. While 18 isnโt a minor under South Korean criminal law (the age of consent was 13 until 2020, when it rose to 16), itโs still a year before the 2019 start date Kim Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist have stuck to. This gap has fans and critics asking: Was their relationship more than just friendship back then? And why the denial if it was all innocent?
Kim Sae Ron wouldโve turned 19 on July 31, 2019, meaning any relationship before that could still stir ethical debates, even if it wasnโt illegal. The 12-year age gapโKim Soo Hyun was 30 in 2018โonly adds fuel to the fire.
The Cooking Connection
The 2018 interview with Korea Cooking Academy gives this story an extra layer. Kim Sae Ron, then a rising star known for films like The Man from Nowhere, spoke proudly about her new hobby.
โI started cooking at home, and for the people around me,โ she said in the interview.
Garo Sero argues this ties directly to the video, showing she was already cooking for Kim Soo Hyun by mid-2018. Forensic analysis of the videoโs metadata, they claim, confirms the date as June 20, 2018โmatching the interview upload. Itโs a small detail, but itโs got people talking about how close the two really were.
Public Reaction
Netizens are split. Some see the video as proof Kim Soo Hyun wasnโt honest, while others say itโs just two friends sharing a mealโno big deal. On X, posts have popped up with mixed takes:
One user wrote about a TV sound in a related video matching a 2018 Knowing Brothers episode, hinting at more evidence.
Another claimed Garo Sero has even stronger proof ready if Kim Soo Hyun keeps denying it.
Meanwhile, Kim Sae Ronโs family and their lawyer have been pushing for an apology, saying the relationship started even earlierโwhen she was 15. Theyโve shared KakaoTalk messages from 2016 to back this up, though this new 2018 video shifts the focus slightly.
Whatโs Next?
This video doesnโt fully settle the bigger question: Did Kim Soo Hyun date Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor? It does, however, poke a hole in his 2019 timeline. Gold Medalist hasnโt responded to this latest release yet, but pressureโs mounting. Brands like Prada and Dinto have already cut ties with the actor over the scandal, and his upcoming Disney+ drama Knock-Off is delayed.
For now, the 2018 video is the latest piece in a messy puzzle. Was it just a friendly dinner, or something more? Until more comes outโor Kim Soo Hyun speaks againโitโs up to fans to decide what they believe.
