"Had an Abortion..." – YouTuber Lee Jin-ho Releases Alleged 'Real Audio' of Kim Sae-ron

On March 19, YouTuber Lee Jin-ho uploaded a video titled 'Shocking Exclusive! The Truth Hidden by Kim Sae-ron’s Family', making startling claims about the late actress.

Did Kim Sae-ron Secretly Get Married?

Lee stated that while he acknowledges some moral responsibility for criticism from the late actress's family, he aimed to correct misinformation. His most shocking claim? That Kim Sae-ron was secretly married to a non-celebrity before her passing.

According to Lee, he obtained confirmation that Kim Sae-ron was indeed legally married and even released a recorded phone conversation as evidence. The call, reportedly from January 8 at 8:55 AM (KST), was between Kim and a male employee from an unspecified entertainment agency. Lee referred to it as her “new agency,” though its identity remains unclear.

Kim Sae-ron was officially with Fantagio from 2009 to 2016, YG Entertainment from 2016 to 2019, and later joined Gold Medalist—the same agency as actor Kim Soo-hyun—before her contract was terminated in December 2022.

The Controversial Wedding Photos

Earlier in January, Kim Sae-ron's Instagram featured a post with the word “Marry” alongside what appeared to be wedding-themed photos. At the time, speculation about her marriage spread, but her side denied the rumors, claiming the images were just snapshots taken with a friend.

However, in the leaked conversation, Kim reportedly admitted, “I didn’t post the pictures—my 'boyfriend' (referred to as ‘B’) did.” The male employee, sounding concerned, asked, “You need to tell me exactly what’s going on. Journalists keep calling. You were with someone else (‘C’) around Christmas—how could you have gotten married? Did you really get married?” To which Kim replied, “Yes. We had the wedding in the U.S.”

A Shocking Revelation: Pregnancy and Forced Marriage

Kim allegedly confessed, “I was dating my ex (‘C’), but we broke up. I told him about my new boyfriend (‘B’). I was planning to break up with B too, but I got pregnant.” When asked, “Are you saying you are pregnant?” she reportedly responded, “I had an abortion. He (‘B’) used the pregnancy to pressure me into marriage.”

She also revealed that ‘B’ was a corporate employee based in New York and that they met through mutual friends.

Kim further claimed, “I even deactivated my KakaoTalk account. He controls all my accounts—KakaoTalk, Instagram—I can’t do anything. I can only use Telegram and text a little.” She explained that her boyfriend pressured her to reveal their marriage, leading to the controversial Instagram post.

In a particularly striking moment, Kim reportedly stated, “I never thought I’d end up marrying someone like him.” When the agency employee asked, “Do parents know?” she confirmed, “Yes.” He then pressed, “Did they approve of this marriage?” Kim allegedly replied, “He seems totally normal, but he acts differently when he drinks.”

Family Allegations & Financial Struggles

Lee also claimed that Kim Sae-ron’s family had provided data from her phone to the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, implying they were aware of her marriage. He further alleged that Kim had attempted self-harm multiple times early last year, resulting in hospitalization and emergency surgery, with medical bills exceeding ₩20 million (approximately $13,700 USD). However, according to Lee, none of her family members paid for her medical expenses, and her agency had to cover the costs instead.

Lee’s revelations have sparked divided reactions online. Some questioned, “What does this have to do with the allegations against Kim Soo-hyun?” and “Releasing this kind of information is disrespectful to the deceased.” Others speculated, “Could the leaked audio be AI-generated?”

Meanwhile, some argued that “If the claims are true, parts of the criticisms directed at Kim Soo-hyun may be unfair.” Neither Kim Soo-hyun nor Kim Sae-ron’s family has issued a statement regarding Lee’s video.

Legal Troubles for Lee Jin-ho

On March 18, Kim Sae-ron’s family filed a defamation lawsuit against Lee Jin-ho for spreading false information.

Born on July 31, 2000, Kim Sae-ron passed away on February 16, 2025, at her home.