An investigation revealed significant discrepancies.
This article is part of our coverage of Kim Soo Hyun And Kim Sae Ron’s Relationship. You can read more and view the entire timeline here.
On October 5, 2025 (KST), South Korean news outlet Money Today claimed in an exclusive report that parts of the KakaoTalk messages between actors Kim Soo Hyun and the late Kim Sae Ron—made public by the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute and since deemed “pedophilic” by netizens—appear to have been fabricated.
Money Today confirmed, based on their investigation, that on April 2, 2018, when Kim Soo Hyun was said to have messaged Kim Sae Ron, the actor was actually still on base in his military unit and not on leave.
In the screenshot of the messages allegedly exchanged on that day, as shared by the late actress’s family via Garo Sero Research Institute, Kim Soo Hyun supposedly tells Kim Sae Ron that he misses her.
April 2, 2018, Monday
[1:48 pm] Kim Soo Hyun: Eh? ㅇㅅㅇ Everyone has so much energy, heh. Sigh, I want to see Saero-Mero soon.
[1:48 pm] Kim Sae Ron: When are we meeting up?
[1:49 pm] Kim Soo Hyun: We said on Thursday (April 5), heh. With the script! I want to see you now, though.
[1:56 pm] Kim Sae Ron: Without the script, since the drama got cancelled. So it’ll just be me. When will your treatment be over today?
[1:57 pm] Kim Soo Hyun: Oh, LOL. I see. ㅎㅅㅎ Today, I’ll be going to the hospital, then eating dinner, then going to work out, so around 9 pm?
The messages were deemed inappropriate, as Kim Sae Ron was a 17-year-old high school sophomore in 2018. The bereaved family and Garo Sero Research Institute used this screenshot, along with others, to slam Kim Soo Hyun for having been in a relationship with Kim Sae Ron as a minor between 2015 and 2021.
“I Took Off All My Clothes” — Kim Soo Hyun’s Damning Messages To 17-Year-Old Kim Sae Ron Revealed
Money Today reported, “Kim Soo Hyun was actually undergoing field training in his military unit at that exact time,” based on a personal diary obtained by the outlet. The diary is reported to have tracked his training from April 2 to 5, 2018, as follows:
Kim Soo Hyun Reveals Diary Entries From The Military— Sparks Fury
April 2: Finished the sixth operation. It’s getting too hot during reconnaissance; I’m sweating a lot.
April 3: Standing guard. Tomorrow is finally the seventh operation.
April 5: Woke up this morning to pouring rain. If it keeps up like this… But I don’t want the operation to be canceled. Going out on a mission makes the day go by faster.
Money Today also reported that, in his April 6 entry, Kim Soo Hyun wrote, “I’m looking forward to my leave.” This is now being considered as proof that Kim Soo Hyun could not have met up with Kim Sae Ron on “Thursday,” April 5, as the messages alleged.
Attorney Ko Sang Rok, representing Kim Soo Hyun, noted that he has found “contradictions in the family’s and Garo Sero Research Institute’s claims” against the actor. The attorney suggested that the screenshots were fabricated using Kim Sae Ron’s messages with another man, falsely attributing them to Kim Soo Hyun.
It appears they mixed messages between Kim Sae Ron and another man with messages falsely attributed to Kim Soo Hyun. A simple check of his military leave records would have proven those messages weren’t sent by him…Even with the minimum evidence disclosed, we can fully disprove all of [Garo Sero Research Institute’s] claims.
— Ko Sang Rok
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