The family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron has explained why they chose to speak about her past relationship after her passing, stating that their intention is to restore her honor, not to gain anything or stir controversy.

On March 11, the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (GaSeYeon) released photos of Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun.

Following the release, GaSeYeon claimed that Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship for six years, starting in November 2015.

According to GaSeYeon, Kim Sae-ron's mother stated, "The reason we are speaking again about a child who is no longer with us is to restore the honor of someone whose reputation was destroyed overnight by false reports. We are not doing this to gain anything or to create division."

She continued, "We simply want her to be remembered and honored for the actress she was in life. We hope she won't become just another topic of gossip but can be acknowledged for her achievements as an actress. Please help restore her dignity."

Kim Sae-ron's aunt also spoke on the matter, saying, "We had no choice but to speak out because Lee Jin-ho (a YouTuber) claimed that the photo Sae-ron posted on her Instagram Story was fake and that her claims were unfounded. We are not trying to attack Kim Soo-hyun."

Previously, GaSeYeon alleged that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with Kim Sae-ron since she was 15 and that his agency, Gold Medalist, sent her a legal notice demanding she repay 700 million KRW (approximately $520,000).

During a phone conversation with GaSeYeon, Kim Sae-ron's aunt stated, "Sae-ron dated Kim Soo-hyun for six years." She also revealed that when Gold Medalist sent the legal notice, Kim Sae-ron tried to contact Kim Soo-hyun but could not reach him. "She kept asking, 'Does oppa know about this? Oppa wouldn't have done this, right? Maybe it was his older brother?' She just wanted to know the truth."

The aunt also stated that when Kim Sae-ron was involved in a DUI accident, Kim Soo-hyun had helped cover 700 million KRW in damages. "At that time, they had already broken up, so she was grateful to him. Sae-ron never said that he demanded repayment, but she wanted to work hard and pay him back."

She added that Kim Sae-ron had received many offers from other agencies but chose to join Gold Medalist because Kim Soo-hyun was establishing the company. According to her, "In the early days of Gold Medalist, Sae-ron worked as if it were her own company-helping recruit rookie actors and working as a visual director. But in the end, she was discarded like an old shoe."

In response, Gold Medalist refuted all allegations, stating, "The claims made by Garo Sero Institute regarding Kim Soo-hyun are entirely false."

The agency continued, "GaSeYeon is alleging that Kim Soo-hyun and our agency conspired with YouTuber Lee Jin-ho to harass the late Kim Sae-ron, that Kim Soo-hyun dated her from the age of 15, that our handling of her DUI case was inappropriate, and that one of our managers had close ties with Lee Jin-ho. These are all malicious falsehoods that we cannot tolerate. We are currently reviewing the strongest possible legal actions against GaSeYeon for spreading misinformation."

Gold Medalist also expressed condolences for Kim Sae-ron's passing, stating, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of an actress who was once part of our agency, and we mourn her passing." However, they strongly criticized GaSeYeon, saying, "The spreading of such falsehoods is reminiscent of the very 'cyber wreckers' that Kim Sae-ron struggled with during her lifetime. This is not only damaging to our agency but also tarnishing the honor of the deceased for personal gain. We will take firm legal action against this."

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