A family member of the late Kim Sae Ron recently attempted to take their own life due to considerable emotional distress from the scandal involving Kim Soo Hyun, news reports have revealed.
According to New Daily on the 14th, the family was scheduled to attend a group screening event of the late actress’s last film, Before We Knew, held at Cheongdam Cine City CGV in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. However, one family member could not attend after attempting to take their own life at home several days prior.
A close acquaintance familiar with the family’s situation told the media, “The only thing the family wants from Kim Soo Hyun is for him to acknowledge all the facts and offer a sincere apology to the deceased.” They went on to say, “Instead, Kim Soo Hyun and his lawyer have claimed that the family is spreading false information with fabricated evidence, causing them indescribable pain,” expressing their frustration.
They added, “Two years ago, when Kim Soo Hyun denied their relationship, the deceased was denied her existence. During the process of reimbursing accident-related expenses, the family suffered again due to the outrageous actions of Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, shedding tears of blood. Although a hundred apologies wouldn’t be enough, it’s baffling that they are trying to frame the family as criminals.”
It was also mentioned that this was not the family’s first attempt at such an extreme act. The source concluded by appealing, “The situation is currently very serious. Please stop criticizing and insulting the family immediately.”
Kim Sae Ron was found dead at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on February 16 last year, a day that also marked actor Kim Soo-hyun’s 37th birthday. Last March, the family claimed that the deceased had been in a romantic relationship with Kim Soo Hyun for five years, starting when she was a minor in 2016. They demanded Kim Soo Hyun’s acknowledgment and a genuine public apology.
However, Kim Soo Hyun’s side denied this, stating their relationship began only after she became an adult, from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020. It is known that the late actress experienced severe stress during her life, including being demanded to pay a ₩700 million KRW (about $470,000 USD) penalty from her former agency Gold Medalist—which also represents Kim Soo Hyun—over a drunk-driving accident in May 2022.
Kim Soo Hyun has filed a lawsuit seeking ₩12.0 billion KRW (about $8.05 million USD) in damages against the deceased’s family and the YouTube channel they spoke through. The family, in turn, has countersued Kim Soo Hyun for violating child welfare laws and for false accusations. Both parties continue to engage in legal battles.