The family of the late Kim Sae-ron has formally demanded a public apology from actor Kim Soo-hyun, his agency Gold Medalist, and YouTuber A.

During a live broadcast on March 15, the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (GaSeYeon) read an official statement on behalf of Kim Sae-ron's family. The statement follows the back-to-back announcements from Kim Soo-hyun's agency on March 14 and 15.

In the statement, the family requested:

  • A formal apology from Kim Soo-hyun for dating Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor.
  • A formal apology from Gold Medalist for publicly denying over the past three years that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron had any romantic relationship, including the denial issued just three days ago.
  • Recognition and an apology for disregarding Kim Sae-ron's contribution as a founding member of Gold Medalist.
  • Acknowledgment and apology regarding the 700 million won repayment notice and demand sent to Kim Sae-ron.

The family further clarified, "The reason Kim Soo-hyun was not specifically mentioned in our previous statement was to focus on warning YouTuber Lee Jin-ho and other cyber wreckers." They added, "The family does not desire anything beyond an official apology from Kim Soo-hyun and his agency."

During the broadcast, GaSeYeon revealed another private photo of a man, believed to be Kim Soo-hyun, washing dishes while exposing his lower body.

Previously, GaSeYeon had announced plans to release more private photos of Kim Soo-hyun but abruptly canceled the disclosure, citing Kim Soo-hyun's fragile mental state as the reason. On March 14, GaSeYeon stated, "Kim Sae-ron's mother expressed concern that Kim Soo-hyun might make an extreme choice. The family is even worried about Kim Soo-hyun's well-being," explaining the change.

However, GaSeYeon went ahead and released the photo on March 15. Regarding this, Kim Sae-ron's family explained, "We had no choice but to release the photo to prove Lee Jin-ho's false claims." They also announced plans to file a complaint against Lee Jin-ho next week, demanding a public apology.

Kim Soo-hyun's side, which had denied the dating rumors last year, reversed their stance in an official statement on March 14. While acknowledging the past relationship, they specified that the dating period was limited to "summer 2019 to fall 2020," after Kim Sae-ron had legally become an adult.

On March 15, Gold Medalist reiterated, "We believe it is inappropriate to publicly argue over these matters, as it does not help in restoring the honor of the late Kim Sae-ron or her mother's intentions." The agency expressed their willingness to meet the family privately and awaited their contact.

In contrast, Kim Sae-ron's family continues to assert that the relationship began in 2015 when Kim Sae-ron was 15 years old and lasted for six years. They are insisting that Kim Soo-hyun acknowledge this timeline and issue an apology.