Kim Soo Hyun’s Agency denies allegations of coercion against the late Kim Sae Ron and refutes rumors about Seo Ye Ji

On March 18, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, officially denied the allegations made by the late Kim Sae Ron’s family regarding alleged threats and coercion. The agency also refuted claims that they had spread false rumors about actress Seo Ye Ji.

Agency Responds to Allegations Raised in Press Conference

On March 17, Kim Sae Ron’s family held a press conference alongside Garosero Research Institute (HoverLab) and claimed that Gold Medalist had pressured Kim Sae Ron to repay a debt and threatened legal action over social media posts and contact with other agency actors.

The family’s lawyer claimed that after Gold Medalist sent the first notice of certification, Kim Sae Ron sent a message to Kim Soo Hyun asking for help, but Kim Soo Hyun did not respond directly. Instead, the agency allegedly sent a second notice demanding repayment within a set period and warning of legal action over social media posts and contact with the agency’s actors.

Gold Medalist’s Official Statement

Gold Medalist firmly denied these allegations, stating:

• "Gold Medalist never demanded compensation for damages from Kim Sae Ron for any reason."
• "The agency never requested compensation from Kim Sae Ron for damages related to projects. It is impossible to demand compensation simply for posting photos on social media or contacting agency actors."

No Coercion Regarding Debt Repayment

The agency clarified that they had not forced Kim Sae Ron to repay any debt.

• "Kim Sae Ron experienced difficulties in continuing her career, and the agency determined that she could no longer repay the debt. Therefore, in December 2023, the agency processed the debt as a loss."
• "The debt write-off was reflected in the company’s audit report on April 1, 2024, confirming that the debt was officially settled as of December 31, 2023."
• The agency added that the second notice of certification was merely a legal procedural guide, proposing to discuss repayment terms and schedules.

Contact With Agency Actors Was Not Prohibited

Gold Medalist also denied that they prohibited Kim Sae Ron from contacting other agency actors.

• "The second notice only instructed Kim Sae Ron to discuss the debt issue with the agency’s legal representatives rather than unrelated parties."
• "Kim Sae Ron was not restricted from contacting other actors, and in fact, she freely communicated with agency actors."

Denies Connection to YouTuber Lee Jin Ho

The agency also addressed claims about YouTuber Lee Jin Ho:

• "Gold Medalist has no relationship with Lee Jin Ho."
• "The ‘former manager of Kim Sae Ron’ mentioned by Garosero Research Institute is not affiliated with Gold Medalist but was an employee of another company that worked with Kim Sae Ron."

Refutes Rumors About Seo Ye Ji

Gold Medalist also denied allegations that they had spread rumors about Seo Ye Ji:

• "The claim that Gold Medalist spread false information about Seo Ye Ji is completely false."
• "The manager who previously handled Seo Ye Ji, who has since left the company, contacted the agency after hearing the rumors and expressed disbelief."
• "We request that the spread of false information based on anonymous tips be stopped immediately."

False Claims and Defamation Attempts

Gold Medalist accused Kim Sae Ron’s family and Garosero Research Institute of making false claims during the press conference:

• "The agency attended Kim Sae Ron’s funeral and paid condolences. The person in the photo posted on Kim Sae Ron’s fan account is not Kim Soo Hyun."
• "Attempts to damage Kim Soo Hyun’s reputation based on unrelated photos and online posts should cease immediately."

Summary of Gold Medalist’s Official Stance

1. No Compensation Claims: Gold Medalist never demanded compensation from Kim Sae Ron for any reason, including social media posts or contact with agency actors.

2. No Coercion Over Debt: The debt was written off in December 2023, and the second notice was merely a procedural explanation.

3. No Ban on Contact: Kim Sae Ron was not prohibited from contacting other actors.

4. No Connection to YouTuber Lee Jin Ho: The ‘former manager’ mentioned by Garosero Research Institute was not affiliated with Gold Medalist.

5. No Rumors About Seo Ye Ji: Allegations of spreading false rumors about Seo Ye Ji are baseless.

6. False Claims by Kim Sae Ron’s Family: The agency attended Kim Sae Ron’s funeral and refuted false claims regarding photos and social media posts.

Gold Medalist concluded their statement by urging Kim Sae Ron’s family and Garosero Research Institute to stop spreading false information and defamatory statements. The agency emphasized that they had never pressured Kim Sae Ron or acted unlawfully and expressed concern over the reputational damage caused by the ongoing allegations.