Dating Controversy & 9 Other Things To Know About Kim Soo-hyun

K-drama fans are no strangers to Kim Soo-hyun. The acclaimed actor has racked up numerous accolades, including four Baeksang Arts Awards — often dubbed the “Oscars of South Korea.”

His most recent work was the hit drama Queen of Tears, in which he starred alongside actress Kim Ji-won; the pair played a married couple on the brink of divorce: Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in, who try to rekindle their love for each other after facing a series of challenges together. The drama, which was the actor’s long-awaited comeback to the small screen after four years, was reported to be the highest-rated drama in tvN’s history, surpassing even Crash Landing On You.

Despite his popularity, A-list status, and numerous awards, the actor now faces allegations that he dated the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. Here’s what to know about him.

1. Kim Soo-hyun's dating saga involving late actress Kim Sae-ron

The allegations first surfaced on YouTube channel Hoverlab, which released a video on Mar 10 claiming that Kim Soo-hyun, now 37, and Kim Sae-ron were in a six-year relationship. It started in 2015 when she was 15 and he was 27. Kim Sae-ron was born in July 2000, while Kim Soo-hyun was born in February 1988.

A child star who rose to fame in the thriller film The Man From Nowhere (2010), Kim Sae-ron, 24, was found dead at her home in Seoul on Feb 16.

However, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist — founded by him and his cousin — refuted the claims in a March 14 press statement. The agency stated that the two only began dating in the summer of 2019, after Kim Sae-ron became an adult, and that Kim Soo-hyun was never involved in her financial matters. Their relationship reportedly lasted until the autumn of 2020.

Hoverlab also released a letter, allegedly written by Kim Soo-hyun to Kim Sae-ron while he was serving his mandatory military service. Dated 2018, the letter reportedly included the affectionate nickname “Saero-naero” and expressed that he missed her. However, his agency emphasised that the letter was one of many he sent to close acquaintances during his service and was not directed to a romantic partner.There are also claims that Soo Hyun pressured Sae-ron to repay a hefty penalty fee, but the agency denied it, writing, “The issuance of a proof of content document was an unavoidable procedure to avoid liability for breach of duty. We never pressured her to repay a debt.”

There are also claims that Kim Soo-hyun pressured Kim Sae-ron to repay a hefty penalty fee, with Hoverlab releasing a screenshot of Kim Sae-ron pleading with Kim Soo-hyun for more time to repay a debt, sparking speculation that financial pressure contributed to her death.

Gold Medalist denied the claims, stating that the certified notice was a legal necessity, not coercion. It said, “If the company were to voluntarily cover the penalty fees (for Kim Sae-ron), there was a risk that the executives who made the decision could be charged with breach of trust, and the expenses might not be recognised as deductible business costs."

2. He has received numerous awards

Kim Soo-hyun has won numerous acting, style and popularity awards throughout his career. Some of his most notable accomplishments include winning Best Actor (Television) for his role in the massive hit drama Moon Embracing The Sun, which also won Best Drama at the 48th Baeksang Arts Awards and Best New Actor for the film Secretly, Gently at the 50th Grand Bell Awards and 50th Baeksang Arts Awards. He was also awarded the Grand Prize (Daesang) consecutively at the 7th and 8th Korea Drama Awards for My Love from the Star and The Producers.

Other honourable mentions include It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, One Ordinary Day, and Queen of Tears. Queen Of Tears is currently the most-watched Tvn K-drama, surpassing the 2019 hit K-drama, Crashing Landing On You.

3. He has been one of the most in-demand celebrity endorsers

Due to the success of his dramas, Kim Soo-hyun has endorsed a staggering number of products. When he starred in Moon Embracing the Sun, he had his face on 17 different brands and products ranging from restaurants to beer to electronic devices, all at the same time. When My Love from the Star exploded in popularity throughout Asia, he had an astonishing 35 local and international endorsement deals in 2014 alone.

However, amidst the allegations, a number of brands have reportedly dropped the actor, including luxury brand Prada, of which he was the celebrity ambassador.

4. He was stationed at the DMZ during his military service

The actor took a hiatus in 2017 to complete his mandatory 21-month military service. Despite having a pre-existing heart condition that saw him originally designated as a public service worker, he went through an additional physical examination to be cleared for active duty.

He was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, which is stationed at the DMZ or demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Part of his duties included patrolling the area while looking out for enemy ambushes and searching for active land mines. He even received an early promotion as a Sergeant for his exceptional conduct.

5. He got into acting to overcome his shyness

During an interview with People magazine when he was in Los Angeles to attend KCON LA in 2015, he revealed that when he was young, his mother suggested that he attended acting classes as he was an introvert. Acting in a play made him feel like he became a different person, and when he felt ecstatic upon hearing the audience’s applause, he knew he wanted to become an actor then.

6. He is good friends with IU

Kim Soo-hyun worked with singer IU on the hit dramas Dream High and The Producers and they have remained good friends. After his discharge from the military, he made a cameo in Hotel del Luna to show his support for her and director Oh Choong-hwan who worked with him on My Love From The Star. He also acted in IU’s music video Ending Scene and she made a cameo in his movie Real. Recently, he sent a coffee truck to her movie set Dream, where she was filming with Park Seo-joon.

7. He financed his own movie

Soo Hyun’s last movie was Real in 2017, an intense neo-noir action film that was financed by the star and directed by his cousin Lee Sa-rang. It starred himself and the late Sulli, formerly from girl group f(x). Although reviews were mixed in South Korea, it got positive reviews in Taiwan and had the highest initial week box office take for a Korean film at the time. The film also boasts cameos from well-known stars such as Bae Suzy, IU, Park Seo-joon, and more.

8. He sings and has lent his voice to numerous drama soundtracks

Soo-hyun studied song and dance for three months at JYP Entertainment, home to famous K-pop groups Twice and Got7, for his scenes in the popular musical teen drama Dream High. Playing a country bumpkin with a singing talent who enrolled into a renowned performing arts high school, he was the only non-idol in a cast of K-pop idols such as Suzy Bae, IU and 2PM’s Ok-Taec-yeon. He recorded a solo track Dreaming, and the title track Dream High with his cast mates for the drama soundtrack. He also went on to contribute his vocals to many of his drama soundtracks over the years. He also showcased his singing skills on good friend F.T Island’s Lee Hong-ki’s radio show Kiss The Radio when they sang F.T. Island’s Wind.

9. He almost became a professional bowler

One of the actor’s biggest passions is bowling. He progressed to the second round of preliminaries at a professional bowling tryout in 2016. Showing off his bowling skills and personal equipment on an episode of Infinite Challenge, he shared that he likes bowling because when you bowl, you only have to compete against yourself. He has also been spotted bowling when he was on military leave.

10. He’s a left-hander but trained to become ambidextrous

Although he is a well-known left-hander after fans spotted him signing with his left hand at events, he practiced using his right hand for the drama My Love from the Star. He showed off his efforts by writing and eating with his non-dominant hand in the drama. He can now use both hands comfortably and even bowls with his right hand.

This article was originally published on May 20, 2024 and updated on Mar 14, 2025.