As rumors of an alleged relationship between actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron have surfaced, demands for Kim Soo-hyun to leave 'Good Day' are emerging.
On the 11th, the YouTube channel Garoseoro Research Institute (hereafter referred to as Gaseyeon) released a screenshot of a text message that appears to have been sent by the late Kim Sae-ron to Kim Soo-hyun. The text message, sent on March 19 of last year, includes a plea from the sender stating, "I received a notice of lawsuit. You said you would give me enough time, so I am diligently preparing for my return. I will repay you gradually, even if it's just a percentage with each project. I'm not saying I won't pay you back. If you ask for 700 million won right now, I really can't do it. It's not that I won't, but that I can't," and "Do we really have to go to court? Please save me. I beg you. Please give me time."
Additionally, Gaseyeon released a photo of Kim Soo-hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek. This photo appears to have been taken on the same day that Kim Sae-ron posted and then deleted a photo on social media. Kim Sae-ron posted a photo on her social media five days after the text was sent, on March 24 of last year, but later deleted it.
On the 10th, Gaseyeon claimed, based on the assertions of the bereaved family, that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron had been in a relationship for six years. According to Gaseyeon, Kim Sae-ron was a minor at 15 years old when their relationship began in 2015, and they continued to date for six years. Kim Soo-hyun, born in 1988, is 12 years older than Kim Sae-ron, who was born in 2000.
In response to Gaseyeon's claims, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, stated on the 10th, "Gaseyeon has made malicious claims that our agency and actor Kim Soo-hyun colluded with YouTuber Lee Jin-ho to harass the late Kim Sae-ron, that Kim Sae-ron dated Kim Soo-hyun from the age of 15, and that our agency's response to Kim Sae-ron's drunk driving incident was inappropriate, among other falsehoods. These are completely unacceptable false facts. We are considering the strongest legal response possible against Gaseyeon's dissemination of false information."
However, after Gaseyeon's additional revelations, Kim Soo-hyun's side has not issued any further statements.
In the meantime, the controversy has spilled over to the MBC entertainment program 'Good Day.' Recently, Kim Soo-hyun garnered attention by forming a group called '88s' with fellow 1988-born celebrities G-Dragon, Hwang Kwang-hee, Im Si-wan, Jung Hae-in, and Lee Soo-hyuk. As the main cast member, Kim Soo-hyun's involvement in the controversy has led viewers to demand his departure from the show.
On the 12th, a post demanding his departure appeared on the viewer bulletin board of the MBC website. One netizen stated, "Due to the current controversy, the program and G-Dragon are also being affected and receiving backlash," and "There is damage being done. This program is intended to bring good people together to use the power of music for good, but I question whether this purpose can be achieved when the person at the center of the current controversy is involved." Another netizen also reacted by saying, "He should voluntarily leave."
Reactions on online communities and social media are also cold. Netizens are responding with comments like, "Shouldn't he be removed?" and "Expel him."
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
