On May 23, attorney Go Sang-rok stated through social media that Kim Soo-hyun “is merely a victim of crime” and emphasized that the actor is not an equal party engaging in a public dispute with the suspects involved in the criminal investigation.
The lawyer explained that Kim Soo-hyun’s side intentionally avoided responding to every allegation repeatedly raised online, saying they plan to continue maintaining that approach moving forward. He added that after a lengthy investigation confirmed the existence of victimization, society should now allow the actor to “return to his original place.”
According to the statement, the responsibility for uncovering crimes, punishing offenders, and protecting victims belongs to the state, while society should help victims recover and return to their daily lives as quickly as possible.
The latest comments come after the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office reportedly requested an arrest warrant on May 20 for Kim Se-ui on charges related to distributing illegal materials under South Korea’s sexual violence laws.
Reports also stated that the Seoul Gangnam Police Station included in its warrant request that Kim Se-ui allegedly knew there was no evidence that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor, nor that the actor was responsible for her death, but still distributed false claims with intent to defame him.
The controversy began after Kim Sae-ron briefly uploaded and deleted a photo with Kim Soo-hyun on social media in March 2024, sparking dating rumors. At the time, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency Gold Medalist denied the rumors, calling them groundless.
Following Kim Sae-ron’s death in February 2025, Garo Sero Institute and her bereaved family held broadcasts and press conferences alleging that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a six-year relationship with the actress beginning when she was still in middle school. They released screenshots of alleged KakaoTalk conversations, audio recordings, and private photos as supporting evidence.
On March 31, Kim Soo-hyun personally addressed the controversy during a press conference, firmly denying claims that he dated Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. He also argued that some of the evidence presented by the family had been manipulated or fabricated.
Sources: naver