Kim Soo Hyun has been officially cleared of the sexual harassment allegations that tarnished his reputation. Over the past year, South Korea's highest-paid actor has been embroiled in controversy and even the scourge of cancel culture.
He was accused of having a romantic relationship and having sex with Kim Sae Ron when she was still underage. The Kim Soo Hyun scandal surfaced shortly after Kim Sae Ron was found dead on Sunday (February 16, 2025), coinciding with the actor's birthday.
The star of the Korean drama Queen of Tears was named as the cause of Kim Sae Ron's death by the grieving family. With the help of YouTuber Kim Se Ui, Kim Sae Ron's family also revealed photo and video evidence of a romantic relationship that began at the age of 15.
Netizens were immediately furious and labeled Kim Soo Hyun a "pedophile." One by one, the brands that had recruited Kim Soo Hyun as a brand ambassador began terminating their contracts.
These included Tous Les Jours, Jo Malone, Prada, Shinhan Bank, Homeplus, and YOU. Finally, on Thursday (May 21, 2026), the Seoul Gangnam Police Station concluded that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron were never romantically involved.
Evidence of Kim Sae Ron's voice recording, which included a confession of having sex in eighth grade in middle school, was also declared to be the result of artificial intelligence (AI). According to YouTuber Kim Se Ui, Kim Sae Ron made the confession to an acquaintance from New Jersey, USA.
On Wednesday (July 29, 2026), Dispatch announced that the police have decided not to pursue Kim Soo Hyun's case in court. This frees Kim Soo Hyun from the allegations of sexual harassment and sexual exploitation of minors previously filed by Kim Sae Ron's family.
During the investigation, police investigated whether Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron's relationship began while she was still a minor and whether sexual abuse occurred. The Seongdong Police Station concluded that the allegations made by YouTuber Kim Se Ui and Kim Sae Ron's family were false.
The Attorney General's Office's Investigation Division also found evidence of manipulation in the voice recordings of Kim Sae Ron and her acquaintance in New Jersey due to differences in the frequency range of the voices. The identity of Kim Sae Ron's acquaintance in New Jersey was never revealed, and its authenticity is even questionable.
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