South Korean superstar Kim Soo-hyun has recently found himself at the center of a swirling controversy involving allegations about his relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron. As rumors and claims gained momentum, Kim’s legal team has stepped forward with a powerful rebuttal: a collection of approximately 150 handwritten letters Kim wrote to a girlfriend during his mandatory military service. These letters serve as key evidence that disputes the accusations that Kim engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Kim Sae-ron while she was underage.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy ignited earlier in 2025, following the untimely death of Kim Sae-ron, a young actress who was known for her remarkable talent. Allegations surfaced that Kim Soo-hyun, who is 36 years old, had been in a relationship with Kim Sae-ron since she was a minor — claims that shocked fans and industry insiders alike. These accusations stemmed partly from audio recordings and a YouTube channel’s reports alleging the duo dated for several years starting when Kim Sae-ron was just 15. This led to an intense online debate and scrutiny of Kim Soo-hyun’s personal life.
Kim Soo-hyun’s agency initially denied any such relationship, but they later confirmed that the two had dated — clarifying emphatically that their romance began only after Kim Sae-ron reached legal adulthood and enrolled in university in 2019. Despite this, the shadow of the allegations lingered, prompting Kim’s legal team to take extraordinary measures.
The Importance of the Military Letters
On September 30, 2025, Kim Soo-hyun’s attorney, Ko Sang-rok, released excerpts and summaries of a diary-like collection of letters Kim wrote during his military service, which lasted from January 2018 to July 2019. According to Ko, these letters were addressed to a different woman — not Kim Sae-ron — and conveyed intimate thoughts, emotions, and plans exclusively shared with this partner.
The attorney explained that Kim’s military service diary evolved into love letters, with more than 150 exchanged over the two-year period. These letters reflected sincere reflections on daily life, affectionate declarations, and future aspirations together. One poignant entry dated July 30, 2018, expressed hopes for a trip with his girlfriend and a deep emotional connection, indicating the relationship’s serious nature.
Most importantly, the lawyer asserted that letters circulated in the public, allegedly linking Kim Soo-hyun romantically to Kim Sae-ron during military duty, were misinterpreted excerpts not from that timeline but from later periods. The genuine letters from his military service do not mention Kim Sae-ron, thereby supporting the claim that the actor was not involved with her during that time.
Legal and Public Response
Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team issued the letters publicly to restore the actor’s damaged reputation and counter what they described as distorted claims and rumors. The revelations were viewed as a decisive move in a highly sensitive case, shedding light on the actor’s private life amid ongoing negative speculation.
Attorney Ko emphasized that if a romantic relationship with Kim Sae-ron had actually started when she was a minor, as alleged, there would be photographs, messages, or other evidence from those years — but no such evidence exists. The available dated photos and records confirm their relationship only began after 2019, when Kim Sae-ron was attending university as an adult.
The controversy has touched on larger themes of privacy, celebrity reputations, online misinformation, and the fine line between public interest and personal boundaries. South Korean society, which retains conservative values regarding age gaps and relationships, has been particularly sensitive to the allegations, reflecting broader concerns about ethics in the entertainment industry.
Who Was Kim Soo-hyun Dating During Military Service?
The letters reveal that from 2016 until his discharge in spring 2019, Kim Soo-hyun was romantically involved with a different woman. The intimate diary entries and letters, personally delivered during military leaves, outline a dedicated relationship entirely distinct from the relationship with Kim Sae-ron, which began later.
This timeline directly contradicts the claims that Kim was dating Kim Sae-ron during her underage years. This clear separation of relationships across timelines lends credibility to Kim Soo-hyun’s defense and helps differentiate factual evidence from hearsay.
The Broader Impact on Industry and Fans
Kim Soo-hyun’s case is a stark illustration of the immense pressures celebrities face from public scrutiny and online rumor mills. It also highlights the challenges of safeguarding reputations amid viral accusations based on unverified materials such as AI-altered audio and selective information.
The Korean entertainment industry — known globally for its fiercely loyal fanbases and relentless media attention — continues grappling with issues of celebrity privacy, online defamation, and the repercussions of posthumous allegations. Kim Soo-hyun’s transparency in releasing his military service letters may serve as a case study in crisis management and reputation recovery.
For fans, the revelations clarify some misunderstandings and reinforce support for Kim Soo-hyun, who remains one of Korea’s top actors, celebrated for his roles in hit dramas and films such as It’s Okay To Not Be Okay and Queen of Tears.
Conclusion
The disclosure of Kim Soo-hyun’s 150 handwritten letters to a girlfriend during his military service marks a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding his alleged relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron. The letters provide concrete evidence affirming that Kim was not romantically involved with Kim Sae-ron while she was underage, effectively challenging months of damaging rumors,which serve as key evidence disputing the claims reported in detail by Republic World
As public discussion evolves, this case exemplifies the importance of verified evidence, ethical media coverage, and protecting personal dignity amidst the turbulence of modern celebrity culture. Kim Soo-hyun’s legal step to restore his reputation highlights the complex interplay between truth, privacy, and public perception in the digital age.
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