Actor Kim Soo-hyun appeared at an emergency press conference on March 31, breaking into tears as he publicly denied allegations that he dated the late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was still a minor.

The conference was held at a hotel in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, at 4:30 p.m., where Kim was accompanied by his legal representative, attorney Kim Jong-bok from LKB & Partners.

"I'm sorry. It feels like too many people are suffering because of me alone," Kim began, his voice trembling. "I feel heartbroken, especially because it seems even the deceased cannot rest peacefully."

"I've always considered myself a coward," he continued. "I was so focused on protecting what I had that I couldn't even trust the kindness that came my way. I was afraid of losing something, of being harmed, so I kept running away and denying everything. That's why it took me so long to stand here. I've thought so many times, what if I had just spoken honestly from the beginning? Maybe my fans, my company, wouldn't have suffered so much."

Fighting back tears, he added, "Every time our private matters were exposed, I kept thinking, 'Let's talk about everything tomorrow. Let's put an end to this hell.' But I hesitated. I was scared about how my decision would affect everyone around me."

Kim also addressed a past incident: "When the late actress posted a photo of us during the airing of Queen of Tears, it was difficult for me. We dated about five years ago, for a little over a year-four years before the drama aired. At the time, I denied the relationship. I understand if people criticize me for that. I also understand if you don't believe what I say today."

"But please," he pleaded, "this is my only chance to speak. I ask that you listen to my side just once."

Kim, in tears, bowed his head and said he had tried to choose the path that would protect both the public and private sides of himself.

"There were people who advised me, 'Let it go, play it safe, show that you're accepting responsibility-then people will lose interest and you can prepare for a comeback.' Maybe if I had done that, our personal lives wouldn't have been dragged out like this," he admitted.

"I wouldn't be getting daily threats about what photo will be released next. I wouldn't have had my private life exposed and insulted," he added. "But I couldn't accept that. I couldn't acknowledge lies as truth just because I was being threatened. So I'll now address the part you've all been most curious about."

"I did not date her when she was a minor," Kim declared. "And it's not true that she took her life because I ignored her or because my agency pressured her over a debt."

"We were just like any other ordinary couple," he explained. "We had genuine feelings for each other, and eventually we broke up. After that, we didn't keep in contact. Just like most couples, it was difficult to stay in touch after the breakup. We were both public figures, and when she was still in the same agency, I at least had some idea of how she was doing. But when she was involved in the DUI case, I couldn't reach out easily."

Kim continued, "I heard from her last agency's CEO that she was having a hard time because of me during that time. But I believe she was seeing someone else then. That's why I hesitated. We were already living separate lives. What was I supposed to say?"

"I know my words may sound like excuses," Kim said through tears. "Because I receive so much love, I also face many misunderstandings. Falsehoods circulate as if they were fact. But I thought that was just something I had to endure."

Still, he voiced frustration: "But the bereaved family claims that I, as her ex-boyfriend, drove her to death. They're demanding that I confess to something I didn't do."

Kim Soo-hyun concluded the press conference with his head lowered, visibly emotional.

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