Late Kim Sae-ron Reportedly Dated a Famous Idol in 2018 — Conflicting Claims Emerge Over Past Relationships

As debate continues between the bereaved family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron and actor Kim Soo-hyun over whether she had a romantic relationship with him as a minor, a new report has surfaced claiming Kim Sae-ron dated a well-known idol member around 2018.

On May 21, Money Today reported that Kim Sae-ron was in a relationship with an older, high-profile male idol, referred to as "A," around 2018.

According to the outlet, the two reportedly broke up briefly in early 2019 but reunited in mid-2022—around the time Kim was involved in a drunk driving incident. It is said that "A" even lent her a significant amount of money during her financial struggles at the time.

The relationship was reportedly not hidden from close acquaintances, as Kim introduced "A" as her boyfriend. Though the pair are believed to have ended their relationship in early 2023, they reportedly maintained contact until at least last year.

There had also been speculation linking Kim Sae-ron to a member of a well-known 7-member idol group, but sources indicate that claim is unfounded.

Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron’s family have been embroiled in a dispute since March over the timeline and nature of their alleged relationship.

The late actress’s family, via the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (Gaseyeon), has asserted that Kim Sae-ron was in a romantic relationship with Kim Soo-hyun from 2016—when she was 15 years old—until 2022, and has called for a sincere public apology from Kim. Kim Soo-hyun’s camp, however, maintains that they dated only after she became an adult—from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020.

With the allegations continuing to make headlines, Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference on March 31 to once again deny claims of dating her as a minor.

Both sides have now taken legal action. Kim Soo-hyun’s team has filed criminal defamation charges against Kim Sae-ron’s family and Gaseyeon representative Kim Se-ui. Additionally, they have filed a civil suit seeking damages totaling approximately 11 billion KRW (roughly $8 million USD) and accused Kim Se-ui of violating the anti-stalking law.

In response, Kim Sae-ron’s family announced during a May 7 press conference that they had filed charges against Kim Soo-hyun for violating the Child Welfare Act and for making false accusations.

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