Kim Soo-hyun breaks down as he denies dating Kim Sae-ron as minor; bows out of press con when asked about first time he met late star - WATCH

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South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has denied allegations of an underage relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron and any involvement in her death. He admitted to a relationship only after she became an adult and refuted claims of financial pressure, calling the evidence fabricated.

South Korean star Kim Soo-hyun, who is at the centre of a major controversy about his alleged relationship with late actor Kim Sae-ron, on Monday denied claims that he dated her when she was underage. Best known to Indian K-drama fans for “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”, “My Love from the Star”, and “Queen of Tears”, Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference in Seoul to deny allegations that he had any role in her suicide.

Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seoul on February 16. She was 24.

“I accept responsibility for what I have done and will take any criticism for it. But I cannot take responsibility for something I did not do. For the people who still believe in me, I want to set the record straight,” the 37-year-old actor said, as he cried inconsolably while addressing the media, reported by The Korea Times.

Kim Soo-hyun, one of the most popular Korean actors worldwide, is facing heat from Kim Sae-ron’s family and local media amid claims that he was in a relationship with her when she was just 15, and that his agency GoldMedalist forced her to repay a debt prior to her death.

About the allegations that he dated Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor and groomed her, the actor said they dated for only a year after she became an adult, between 2019 and 2020.

“Outside of being actors, we were just like any other couple,” he said of Kim Sae-ron, who rose to prominence as a child actor with “The Man From Nowhere” to a leading lady in films such as “A Girl at My Door”.

Initially, Kim Soo-hyun had denied any romantic relationship with her.

He also defended his previous statement regarding their relationship when Kim Sae-ron posted and later deleted a photo of them together during the “Queen of Tears” run on TV last year.

“I had so much to protect as its lead actor. What would have happened if I had admitted to a year-long relationship? What would happen to the actors, the staff who were working overnight and the production team who had everything staked on that project?” the actor said, according to Korean media.

Kim Soo-hyun also denied the second allegation of financially pressuring Kim Sae-ron following her 2022 drunk driving accident, leading to debt.

“As far as I know, she was dating someone else at the time. Given the circumstances, I was very cautious about contacting her … Her family is accusing me of driving her to her death just because I was her ex-boyfriend. They are pressuring me to confess to something I did not do,” he added.

However, a video going viral online sees the star bowing out of the press conference as a journalist reportedly asked him, “When was the first time that you went out with Sae-ron.”

The scandal began almost a month after Kim Sae-ron’s death when a YouTube channel published videos and photos allegedly documenting a six-year relationship with the actor beginning when she was 15. Her family’s attorney later presented alleged chat history between the actors from 2016, when she was 16.

At the press conference, Kim Soo-hyun dismissed it as “false testimony” and “fabricated evidence”.

Kim Soo-hyun’s image has taken a serious hit due to the controversy. Fashion label Prada and Korean cosmetics company Dinto have ended their partnerships with him, whereas streamer Disney+ Kim has paused production on a project with the actor, according to Korea media.

His legal team has filed criminal complaints against Kim Sae-ron’s family and the YouTube channel, along with a civil lawsuit seeking damages of KRW12 billion (approximately USD 8.1 million).

The actor didn’t take any questions from the media.

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