Kim Soo-hyun Rejects Underage Dating Accusation

South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun, who is at the center of swirling rumors about his alleged relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron, held a press conference on March 31 to emphatically state that he did not date her when she was a minor and that he had no involvement in her death.

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SEOUL -

At the event held at a hotel in Seoul, the 37-year-old entered the room with a stiff walk and a tense expression.

"I think of myself as a coward. I always seemed to be too focused on protecting what I had," he said, his voice taut. "I couldn't even trust the goodwill directed towards me. Always afraid of losing something or being hurt, it took me a long time to stand here."

Kim Soo-hyun went on to acknowledge that he dated Kim Sae-ron, who was born in July 2000, in 2019 for about a year. Kim Sae-ron died at the age of 24 in February, in what has been ruled as suicide.

Asked why he had denied their relationship a year ago in March 2024 after dating rumors surfaced following her social media post featuring a photo of them together, the actor explained that with K-drama Queen Of Tears airing at the time, he wanted to protect those around him.

"After becoming an actor, I received an overwhelming amount of love. I was someone who didn't have much, but suddenly, I became someone with too much to protect," he said.