On October 14, Kim Sae-ron's mother, identified as Ms. A, released a statement through a YouTube channel. She stated, "Our goal is to restore the honor of our child, which was destroyed in an instant by numerous false articles. We also want to lay the groundwork for legally punishing these malicious YouTubers and cyberbullies."
Ms. A emphasized, "Sae-ron never lied to the media. She did not indulge in gambling or pretend to work part-time jobs. She was not someone who only enjoyed nightlife with friends, nor did she spark dating rumors with manipulated photos."
She further expressed her frustration, saying, "Now that Sae-ron is no longer with us, there are outrageous false articles claiming she was the breadwinner of the family and that her earnings were squandered by her family. These are baseless rumors." Kim Sae-ron was the eldest of three daughters, and Ms. A felt compelled to address these rumors to protect her remaining daughters.
Ms. A also highlighted the intense scrutiny her daughter faced, stating, "All the sharp arrows of false articles were directed at my young daughter, Sae-ron, who had just turned 20. She endured unspeakable, misogynistic attacks alone for three years, unable to sleep, and isolated. This was triggered by false articles from Lee Jin-ho, leading to nationwide ostracism."
She concluded by expressing hope that "the media will fulfill their duty and responsibility, and that legal and institutional measures will be established to prevent such incidents from happening again."
Previously, Kim Sae-ron's family claimed that she had been in a relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun from the age of 15 for six years, releasing photos of the couple. On October 12, they shared images of Kim Soo-hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron and letters he sent during his military service, causing a stir.
In response, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, stated on October 14, "Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after she became an adult. The claim that he dated her while she was a minor is false." They also refuted claims that Kim Soo-hyun ignored Kim Sae-ron's financial issues, clarifying that the letters sent during his military service were among those sent to close acquaintances.
Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr