The letter stated that the former agency had covered the damages on her behalf and was now seeking reimbursement.
However, despite the repayment deadline passing, you have yet to settle the outstanding loan."
promptly, they would pursue civil and criminal legal action.
# SOS
At the time, Kim Sae Ron was in no position to repay the amount.
“Kim Sae Ron has been supporting her family as the primary breadwinner since she was young.
She is facing financial difficulties due to the compensation payments.
“(Kim Sae Rons attorney, first trial)
Kim Sae Ron was Gold Medalists first signed artist.
In desperation, she turned toKim Soo Hyun, reaching out to her former partner for help.
“Oppa, its Sae Ron.
I received a certified letter.
Theyre taking legal action.
If they demand 700 million won all at once, I really cant do it.
Do we really have to go to court?
just give me time.”
Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun had been in a relationship in the past.
However, Kim Soo Hyun did not respond.
She quickly deleted the post, but the message was clear.
# No Response
Dispatch attempted to contact Kim Sae Ron directly.
Amid numerous reports stating that she was preparing an official statement, the outlet sought to verify the situation.
Dispatch:Were reaching out after reading reports that youre preparing a statement.
Kim Sae Ron:I never said I was releasing a statement.
It seems my words were misinterpreted.
It became clear that Kim Sae Ron did not want the issue to escalate further.
However, it appeared she had gained some relief regarding the debt issue.
However, the agencys claims did not align with their actions.
Kim Sae Rons financial situation had not improved.
The only thing that had changed was public attention shifting to Kim Soo Hyun after the photo surfaced.
The exact conversations between Kim Sae Ron and the agency remain unknown.
While she wished to keep matters private, the agency released a one-sided press statement.
“The dating rumors regarding Kim Soo Hyun are completely false.
The photo in question appears to have been taken when they were under the same agency.
We have no knowledge of Kim Sae Rons intentions behind her actions.
“(Gold Medalist)
The photo changed everything.
While Kim Sae Rons financial burden lessened, she became known as “self-made dating rumor.”
# Tragedy
On February 16, 2025, Kim Sae Ron passed away.
Coincidentally, the date was also Kim Soo Hyuns birthday.
“The production company ofBloodhoundsdemanded 700 million won in damages due to her DUI incident.
Our agency paid the amount on her behalf.
“(Gold Medalist)
Dispatch:Then why did you send the certified notice?
Gold Medalist:We never intended to collect the money from her.
We had no choice but to complete the necessary legal procedures to avoid potential breach of fiduciary duty.
Dispatch:Did you inform Kim Sae Ron that it was just a formality?
Gold Medalist:Her manager at the time explained the situation to her.
We also needed documentation for internal procedures.
Dispatch:Kim Sae Ron seemed extremely distressed after receiving the notice.
We never expected her to return such a large sum immediately.
# Contradictions
The discrepancies between Gold Medalists claims and Kim Sae Rons actions raise questions.
More than anything, Kim Sae Ron appeared to feel immense pressure from the certified notice.
She likely never heard that it was merely a formality.
Her desperate text to Kim Soo Hyun speaks for itself.
Dispatch:How much did Kim Sae Ron actually pay in compensation?
After that, we didnt receive any additional payments.
However, Dispatchs investigation found that Kim Sae Ron did not neglect her debts.
She allocated profits from investments in ‘Golden S’ toward her penalty fees and advertising contract compensation.
Gold Medalist was fully aware of her financial struggles.
So why send the certified notice?
The claim that it was “a formality” does not fully explain their decision.
(Note: ‘Golden S’ is a publicly listed company acquired by Gold Medalist and Siwon School.
Kim Sae Ron was involved as a CB investor.
“I only realized it was Kim Sae Ron after reading the news of her passing.
I remember her because she often cried on the stairs in the hallway.
“(Neighbor)
Dispatch:When did she move in?
Neighbor:She moved in around February 2023.
I heard she was set to move out on February 18.
Dispatch:Did you ever see her?
Neighbor:I once saw her sitting on the staircase, crying for a long time.
She seemed troubled, so I comforted her.
She opened up about her struggles.
The neighbor also mentioned noticingscars on Kim Sae Rons wrists.
“I saw scars around her wrists.
I remember thinking she must have had a very difficult life for someone so young.
At the time, I didnt even realize she was an actress.
I just thought she was living in Seoul with her younger sister.”
# More Falsehoods
Gold Medalist released an official statement, labeling the reports “false rumors.”
However, Dispatchs investigation suggests that there were more accounts supporting the claims than refuting them.
Their past relationship was an open secret, making Gold Medalists blanket denial questionable.
“This time, is it ‘self-made marriage’?”…
Could Gold Medalist have handled the situation better?
Instead, their legal notice pressured her, and their official statements discredited her.
Was that truly the best way to support one of their former artists?
SEE ALSO:The late Kim Sae Ron’s final work released as a music video
