Kim Soo-hyun has denied allegations that he was in a relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor, asserting that their relationship only began after she became a legal adult. However, inconsistencies in his previous statements have led to skepticism over the credibility of his latest explanation.

On March 14, Kim's agency, Gold Medalist, issued an official statement refuting claims made by Garo Sero Institute (GaSeYeon), which had cited Kim Sae-ron's family in alleging that the two actors were romantically involved for six years, starting when she was 16. The agency clarified, "Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were in a relationship from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after she became a legal adult."

While Kim's agency emphasized that their relationship began only after Kim Sae-ron turned 19 in July 2019, their statement has drawn scrutiny. The timeline suggests that the two began dating almost immediately after she reached adulthood, raising further questions.

For years, Kim Soo-hyun has consistently denied any private relationship with Kim Sae-ron. In particular, in March 2024, when Kim Sae-ron uploaded a photo of the two of them pressing their cheeks together, sparking dating rumors, his agency issued a strong denial. At the time, Gold Medalist stated, "The photos circulating online appear to have been taken when they were under the same agency. We have no knowledge of Kim Sae-ron's intentions in posting them. However, this has led to unnecessary speculation and misunderstandings." The agency even threatened legal action over the spread of the rumors.

However, with GaSeYeon revealing more details, including testimonies from Kim Sae-ron's family members and allegations that their relationship started while she was still underage, Kim Soo-hyun has now acknowledged the past relationship he had previously denied.

This reversal has not gone unnoticed by the public. Even if Kim's initial denials were technically true at the time-because they were no longer dating when the March 2024 controversy erupted-his past reluctance to be forthcoming has now cast doubt on the sincerity of his latest statement. Many now view his previous denials as an attempt to mislead the public.

Further complicating matters is the discrepancy between Kim Soo-hyun's statement and the timeline shared by Kim Sae-ron's family. In testimonies to GaSeYeon, her relatives reportedly claimed a different timeline for their relationship, one that contradicts Kim's assertion that they only started dating in 2019.

As a result, Kim Soo-hyun's defense against allegations of underage dating has struggled to gain credibility. Critics argue that his initial denial of any personal involvement with Kim Sae-ron, only to later acknowledge their past relationship after mounting pressure, weakens his overall argument. The controversy surrounding the actor continues to grow, with public sentiment remaining divided over the legitimacy of his claims.

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