South Korean actor Kim Soo-Hyun held a press conference to deny accusations from the family of the late actor Kim Sae-Ron. Refuting claims that he had a relationship with Kim Sae-Ron when she was 15 and that his agency pressured him with debts, Kim Soo-Hyun firmly stated, “I cannot admit to something I did not do.” These statements sparked a major debate in South Korea, leading to harsh criticism towards the well-known actor. While Kim Soo-Hyun confessed to having had a relationship with Kim Sae-Ron, he clarified that it was when Sae-Ron was of legal age. The 25-year-old actor Kim Sae-Ron was found dead in her home last February, with speculations of suicide. However, rumors about an alleged romantic involvement with actor Kim Soo-Hyun before she reached legal age caused controversy. At that time, Kim Soo-Hyun was 27 and Kim Sae-Ron was 15, triggering backlash in the country. A claim was made by someone purporting to be Kim Sae-Ron’s aunt, stating that the relationship began in 2015 and ended in 2021. According to the allegations, Kim Soo-Hyun, even if not formally in a relationship, provided financial assistance to Kim Sae-Ron through his agency, lending 483 thousand dollars (approximately 18 million Turkish Lira). However, the company demanded repayment of this sum by 2024. It was reported that Kim Sae-Ron was unable to pay the debt and couldn’t reach Kim Soo-Hyun. Subsequently, Kim Sae-Ron posted a photo on Instagram with her ex-boyfriend, which was quickly deleted. In a message dated March 2023, it was seen that Kim Sae-Ron sent a message to Kim Soo-Hyun about money matters. The message read: “I am working hard, I will pay off my debt little by little. But I cannot pay it back in full now. Please give me some time. Please, save me. I beg you, there is no need to file a lawsuit.” Kim Soo-Hyun apologized for remaining silent on last year’s relationship allegations and expressed concern about the consequences of his new series “Queen of Tears.” During a press conference held on Monday, Kim Soo-Hyun apologized for not addressing the relationship allegations from the previous year. He stated, “If I am accused of cowardice or selfishness, I will accept it.” Kim Sae-Ron had achieved great success in her acting career, starting at a young age, but a car accident while driving under the influence in 2022 negatively impacted her career. In 2023, a Seoul court found Kim Sae-Ron guilty of driving under the influence and sentenced her to a fine of approximately 14 thousand dollars. Kim Soo-Hyun also dismissed the authenticity of the short messages circulating online regarding his relationship with Kim Sae-Ron. Last month, a police official speaking to CNN mentioned that there were no suspicious circumstances in Kim Sae-Ron’s death and that investigations into the incident were ongoing.