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.
Dispatch has released an article sharing how Gold Medalist didn’t act in Kim Sae Ron‘s best interests, possibly contributing to her passing.
Certificate of Contents
On March 2024, Gold Medalist sent Kim Sae Ron an official notice for debt repayment. She was being ordered to pay compensation to her former agency for the damages she caused. She still had ₩686 million KRW (about $473,000 USD) left to pay back, and the due date was December 31, 2023. Gold Medalist threatened to take both civil and criminal legal action if the amount was not paid back in full.
SOS
Kim Sae Ron could not afford to make the repayment at the time, as she was the main breadwinner in her family. Due to her drunk driving incident, she had to juggle earning money for her family alongside making repayments to Gold Medalist for the damages she caused them.
Kim Sae Ron used to be Gold Medalist’s number one celebrity, but her contract was not renewed. At that time, she may have judged that her debt was quietly settled. But upon seeing the official notice, she gave in to the fear, and ended up sending an SOS signal to Kim Soo Hyun.
Avoidance
Dispatch was also able to obtain the message sent by Kim Sae Ron to Kim Soo Hyun.
Oppa, this is Sae Ron. I received the letter of certification today, that [your company] is suing me. You said that you would give me ample time, so I’m working hard, preparing to make a comeback. I will pay you back with a percentage from each work. I’m not saying that I won’t pay you back, but if you suddenly ask for ₩700 million KRW (about $480,000 USD) right now, I really can’t do anything. It’s not that I won’t, but I can’t. Do you really have to take it as far as a lawsuit? Please save me… I beg of you. Give me some time.
— Kim Sae Ron
Dispatch stated that in the past, Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun were in a relationship. That is how Kim Sae Ron ended up joining Gold Medalist, as Gold Medalist originally started out as Kim Soo Hyun’s one-person agency. Kim Soo Hyun did not respond, and in response, Kim Sae Ron released a photo of the two together. It was her method of trying to get his attention to get in touch with her.
No Statement
Dispatch reached out to Kim Sae Ron, trying to ask her what exactly happened. They were able to get a response back from her.
Kim Sae Ron: Who is this?
Dispatch: This is Dispatch reporter Kim So Jeong. You were not responding to messages, so I am sending this through KakaoTalk instead. Is is difficult to chat right now?
Kim Sae Ron: Yes, it’s hard. You have contacted me but I’m sorry that I cannot provide the response that you want.
Dispatch: I understand how you are feeling. Have you seen the report from [redacted]. They said you were going to release a statement. Can we expect a statement?
Kim Sae Ron: No, I never said I was going to release a statement. It seems that they were misinformed about the necessity of releasing a statement.
Kim Sae Ron: I am hoping that you don’t share this conversation in an article right now. I am replying out of courtesy for you contacting me.
Dispatch: Ah, I saw that article and thought you had more to say. I will not share this in an article! Don’t worry! If you have something you want to say, please contact me!
Kim Sae Ron: Thank you :) Have a nice day
Kim Sae Ron didn’t want the issue to spread any further, which is why she did not release a further statement. Instead, it was assumed that the burden of paying back Gold Medalist was lifted off her shoulders.
Considering Kim Sae Ron’s circumstances, the agency has decided to not ask for the money from her.
— Gold Medalist staff to Dispatch
Gold Medalist
However, Dispatch is pointing out how Gold Medalist’s words don’t line up. One picture wouldn’t have been enough to change Kim Sae Ron’s situation, but it was enough to change Kim Soo Hyun’s.
While Dispatch stated they were unable to find out what conversations took place between Kim Sae Ron and Gold Medalist, what was clear were the different lines drawn. Kim Sae Ron didn’t want the issue to become bigger, while Gold Medalist released a one-sided statement to the media.
We would like to inform you that the rumors of Kim Soo Hyun being in a relationship [with Kim Sae Ron] are unfounded. The photo that is being spread online appears to have been taken in the past when the two were both under our management. As for Kim Sae Ron’s intentions for uploading the picture, we do not know.
— Gold Medalist
D.e.ath
Kim Sae Ron passed away on February 16, 2025. February 16 is also Kim Soo Hyun’s birthday. Following this, Dispatch once again approached Gold Medalist about Kim Sae Ron’s repayment issue.
Gold Medalist: The production company for Bloodhounds claimed ₩700 million KRW (about $482,000 USD) in compensation for her drunk driving incident. The company paid the compensation amount in advance in her place.
Dispatch: Why did you send her a certified notice?
Gold Medalist: We had no intentions of receiving money from Kim Sae Ron. We thought we wouldn’t get it. We only followed basic procedures because there could have been a case of malpractice brought up.
Dispatch: Did you inform Kim Sae Ron that it was merely a formality?
Gold Medalist: From what we know, her manager got in contact with her at that time. We needed the documents for it.
Dispatch: But Kim Sae Ron seemed very anxious after receiving the notice?
Gold Medalist: She was told the company paid out the compensation. We knew we couldn’t get such a large amount from her. We told her she could pay it back when she brings in a profit for the company or when she can afford it.
Differences
However, there are clear differences between Kim Sae Ron’s actions and what Gold Medalist is claiming. Above all, Dispatch has presumed Kim Sae Ron felt burdened by the official notice sent by Gold Medalist, assuming that she was not told it was just a formality.
Dispatch: How much did Kim Sae Ron compensate for her accident?
Gold Medalist: Kim Sae Ron’s car that was involved in the crash was not repaired, so it was sold off as a used car. That was about ₩35.0 million KRW (about $24,100 USD). Since then, we did not receive any money.
Fines
Kim Sae Ron did the best she could to get money to pay back Gold Medalist. She sold off her car and any convertible bonds she could, disposing most of her assets. In the end, she gathered about ₩200 million KRW (about $138,000 USD). Gold Medalist stated they were aware Kim Sae Ron was unable to pay the company back, yet they still sent an official notice to her asking for the money back.
Golden S is a KOSDAQ listed company that Gold Medalist and Siwon School jointly acquired. Kim Sae Ron took part in the acquisition as a convertible bond investor. Gold Medalist itself is entirely owned by Kim Soo Hyun and Lee Ro Be (also known as movie director Lee Sa Rang). When they acquired Golden S, Dispatch reported they saw a 400% return on their investment.
The Villa
Dispatch visited the apartment complex Kim Sae Ron lived in the day she died. They were able to talk to a person who lived in the same building as her.
Resident: I thought it was about Kim Sae Ron after seeing the news. I remember seeing her cry a lot on the stairs.
Resident: She moved in last year. She signed a one-year contract. I heard she was supposed to move out on February 18.
Dispatch: Have you seen Kim Sae Ron in person?
Resident: She would cry for a long time on the stairs. I felt sorry for her and tried to console her. It seemed she had personal issues she was dealing with. I have listened to her complaints.
Dispatch also mentioned that the resident noticed a wound on Kim Sae Ron’s wrist.
I could see a wound on her wrist. I thought that this young woman had such a difficult life. I didn’t even know she was an actress. I just thought she was someone who came to live in Seoul with her younger sister.
— Resident
False facts, again
Gold Medalist shared their official statement, that these are all false facts. But Dispatch is confident that through their various channels, they can confirm there was indeed a relationship between the two. They included a statement from a close acquaintance of Kim Soo Hyun’s.
Kim Sae Ron’s age is the issue, which is why they will never officially admit to dating.
— Kim Soo Hyun’s close acquaintance to Dispatch
Dispatch concluded their article by stating that there is no one thing led to Kim Sae Ron’s passing, rather attributing it to a combination of various factors, including YouTubers and the media spreading news, personal history, and pent up frustrations. But what they have criticized is Gold Medalist’s response, questioning whether they acted in their actress’s best interests.
Souces: Koreaboo.
