New Interview With Kim Sae Ron’s Aunt Reveals More About The Late Actress’s ₩700M Debt
This article is part of our coverage of Kim Soo Hyun And Kim Sae Ron's Relationship. You can read more and view the entire timeline here.
On March 13, 2025 (KST), actress Kim Sae Ron‘s “aunt” spoke with a Korean media outlet, THE FACT, revealing more details about the ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD) debt with which her former management and actor Kim Soo Hyun‘s GOLD MEDALIST threatened the actress.
In the exclusive over-the-phone interview, the aunt—who first exposed actor Kim Soo Hyun—was identified as not an actual relative by blood but “someone who had a close relationship with Kim Sae Ron, like a sister to the actress’s mother since her childhood acting days.” THE FACT noted that following Kim Sae Ron’s death, this close family friend (dubbed ‘aunt’) had taken on the role of the bereaved’s representative for external communication.
The aunt explained that Kim Sae Ron’s ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD) debt came from GOLD MEDALIST compensating the producers of the 2023 K-Drama Bloodhounds. According to the aunt, Kim Sae Ron told her family that Kim Soo Hyun had “personally lent her the money.”
THE FACT: First of all, what exactly does the ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD) in damages, as mentioned in the certified document sent by her former agency, cover?
Kim Sae Ron’s Aunt: After the DUI accident, Sae Ron covered all costs for damages, including the broken transformer and repairs to nearby shops, with her own money and without the assistance of her agency. She exhausted every possible resource to repay what she could, but she had no means to pay off the remaining amount. From what I know, the financial loss incurred by the production company of the Netflix show Bloodhounds, due to her DUI accident was roughly around ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD). While this amount was officially recorded as having been repaid by the agency, according to Sae Ron, she said that Kim Soo Hyun personally lent her the money.
Hankook Kyungje, another media outlet, also reported that the ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD) mentioned in the certified document was confirmed to be the compensation amount requested by Studio N, the production company of Bloodhounds.
Initially, the production company demanded ₩7.00 billion KRW (about $4.83 million USD) in damages, but after Kim Sae Ron personally visited them, got on her knees, and pleaded for leniency, the final settlement was reduced to ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD).
In fact, the production team for Bloodhounds did have to revise its script due to Kim Sae Ron’s DUI accident. Additionally, the shoot was extended by two months, resulting in direct losses of over ₩1.00 billion KRW (about $690,000 USD). Considering the damage to the project’s overall reputation, industry insiders noted that ‘the ₩7.00 billion KRW (about $4.83 million USD) originally demanded by the production company was not an unreasonable amount, and the fact that the final settlement was lowered to ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD) shows that they were quite considerate of Kim Sae Ron’s situation.’
— Reporter Kim So Yeon for Hankook Kyungje
The aunt told THE FACT, “It is undeniable that Kim Sae Ron was at fault for the DUI accident,” and the damages were being billed. She added, however, that GOLD MEDALIST’s decision to pressure Kim Sae Ron with legal action was “excessive.” Based on the interview, Kim Sae Ron might have defended Kim Soo Hyun until the end—telling her family that Kim Soo Hyun “had a disagreement with his cousin” over how she was going to pay them back.
THE FACT: Kim Sae Ron was the first celebrity to sign under GOLD MEDALIST, yet the management gave up on renewing her contract and pressured her to repay the money by sending a certified document. Why do you think they took this approach after her DUI accident?
Aunt: It is undeniable that Sae Ron was at fault for the DUI accident. However, sending a certified document with the names of three law firm attorneys, demanding that a young woman without the immediate financial means repay ₩700 million KRW (about $483,000 USD), was excessive. They may have determined that her chances of making a comeback were slim and possibly wanted to completely distance themselves from any lingering negative associations.
As for Kim Soo Hyun, I’m not sure whether he initially understood Sae Ron’s situation or not. But she once told me that he had a disagreement with his cousin, [CCO Lee Sa Rang], over differing opinions on the repayment demand.
As for Kim Soo Hyun denying the aunt’s initial exposé about his inappropriate relationship with the late actress, the aunt firmly reiterated that no parent would lie about their deceased child. According to the aunt, Kim Soo Hyun had told Kim Sae Ron’s parents—as he was signing her to GOLD MEDALIST—that he would “take full responsibility for her” and they need not worry.
THE FACT: There are conflicting claims about whether Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun were once in a relationship. What is the truth?
Aunt: What parent would lie about their deceased child? I found out about their relationship right before she transferred to GOLD MEDALIST. While the age gap was too large to call it a typical romantic relationship, what is certain is that they had mutual feelings for each other. When Sae Ron left YG Entertainment for GOLD MEDALIST, she insisted they had a special connection. Still, no matter how famous he was, the significant age difference at the time naturally made her parents concerned, and they had no choice but to oppose it.
The most heartbreaking thing is that we couldn’t fully embrace and support Sae Ron through her pain. As for disappointment, I cannot even begin to express how let down we feel by GOLD MEDALIST. Despite her parents’ opposition, they signed Sae Ron. Kim Soo Hyun personally reassured her parents, saying, ‘I will take full responsibility for her, so don’t worry.’
The aunt ended the phone conversation hoping Koreans would take part in the ongoing petition to call for stricter regulations against YouTubers violating celebrities’ privacies.
The petition runs until March 26, and I hope many people participate so that this can serve as an opportunity to strengthen the current lenient punishments. Although Sae Ron is no longer with us, I sincerely hope that, in the future, no more innocent lives are lost due to reckless and irresponsible invasions of privacy.
— Kim Sae Ron’s Aunt
Meanwhile, Kim Sae Ron’s 2010 co-star Won Bin has since been rumored to have planned on helping the late actress pay off the debilitating debt. Read more about it here:
