A new investigation has cast doubt on explosive claims against actor Kim Soo Hyun, with Korean outlet Money Today reporting that the KakaoTalk messages linking him to the late actress Kim Sae Ron may have been falsified.
The controversy began when YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute released screenshots provided by Kim Sae Ron’s family. The messages, dated April 2, 2018, appeared to show Kim Soo Hyun expressing affection toward the then-17-year-old actress, prompting online accusations of inappropriate behavior and alleged grooming.
However, Money Today’s fact-check revealed that Kim Soo Hyun could not have sent those messages. On the day in question, the actor was still serving in the military and actively participating in field training exercises. According to a personal diary entry obtained by the outlet, he recorded completing operations and standing guard from April 2 to 5, 2018—contradicting claims that he was on leave. His April 6 diary entry even mentioned “looking forward to my leave,” reinforcing that he had not been discharged from training during that period.
This directly challenges the credibility of the KakaoTalk screenshots, which included alleged exchanges such as:
- Kim Soo Hyun: “I want to see Saero-Mero soon.”
- Kim Sae Ron: “When are we meeting up?”
- Kim Soo Hyun: “We said Thursday (April 5)… but I want to see you now.”
Given that Kim Soo Hyun was still confined to military duties, the reported conversation could not have taken place.
Attorney Ko Sang Rok, who represents Kim Soo Hyun, further argued that the messages were manipulated. He suggested that Kim Sae Ron’s real messages with another man had been spliced with fabricated lines falsely attributed to Kim Soo Hyun. “A simple check of his military leave records disproves the claims. Even with minimal evidence, we can show these allegations are baseless,” he stated.
The findings have intensified debate around the role of unverified leaks and online rumors, especially in cases involving deceased celebrities. While the accusations originally fueled widespread outrage against Kim Soo Hyun, the new evidence may shift public perception, positioning the actor as a victim of a smear campaign rather than a perpetrator.
Sources: Koreaboo
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