Kim Soo-Hyun breaks down in tears, denies dating Kim Sae-Ron as a minor

South Korean actor Kim Soo-Hyun held an emotional press conference on Monday, March 31, to address the controversy surrounding his late ex-girlfriend, Kim Sae-Ron. This was the first time he spoke publicly about her since her tragic passing on February 16.

Despite initially denying the relationship, Kim Soo-Hyun admitted that he and Sae-Ron had dated for about a year—but he firmly denied allegations that she was underage at the time. During the press conference, the actor broke down in tears as he apologized to fans and responded to claims made by Sae-Ron’s family.

Soo-Hyun’s Emotional Apology

Fighting back tears, the Queen of Tears star expressed deep regret for how things unfolded.

“I’m sorry. So many people are suffering because of me, and that breaks my heart. Even the deceased may not be at peace because of all this,” he said.

He admitted that fear held him back from speaking sooner. “I was too focused on protecting myself. I was afraid of losing everything, so I kept running away and denying things. But now, I wonder—if I had just spoken the truth from the start, would things have turned out differently?”

Confirms Relationship but Denies Wrongdoing

Kim Soo-Hyun acknowledged that he and Kim Sae-Ron were in a relationship about five years ago, long before his latest drama, Queen of Tears, aired. However, he denied that she was a minor when they dated.

“I know people will criticize me for denying our relationship back then. I was scared. Every day, I worried that the choices I made to protect my career would backfire,” he admitted.

Strongly Rejects Allegations from Sae-Ron’s Family

Addressing the most serious accusations, Soo-Hyun denied any involvement in Sae-Ron’s tragic passing.

“I did not date her when she was a minor. It’s also untrue that she took her own life because I abandoned her or that my agency pressured her over debts,” he stated firmly.

He revealed that Sae-Ron’s family is accusing him of manipulating her and pressuring her financially, even blaming him for her death. “They want me to confess to something I didn’t do,” he said.

Willing to Take Responsibility—But Only for the Truth

Kim Soo-Hyun ended the press conference by expressing his willingness to take responsibility for any real mistakes but refused to admit to false claims.

“If I’ve done something wrong, I will take responsibility. But I cannot admit to things I never did. If people think I’m cowardly or selfish, I accept that criticism. To everyone who cared about me, I sincerely apologize.”

The emotional press conference left fans divided, with some supporting the actor and others waiting for more details to emerge.