South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, has officially refuted claims that he pressured late actress Kim Sae-ron over a 700 million won debt, releasing financial records to prove that the debt was written off at the end of 2023.
Amid growing speculation that financial troubles led to Kim Sae-ron’s tragic fate, Gold Medalist issued a statement on March 14 clarifying the situation.
The agency confirmed that while Kim Sae-ron had significant financial difficulties following her 2022 DUI case, her debt was recognized as a loss in December 2023 and fully written off in the company’s April 1, 2024, audit report.
Gold Medalist addressed accusations from 'Horizontal Research Institute,' which claimed that Kim Soo-hyun ignored Kim Sae-ron’s plea for financial help and instead pressured her for repayment.
The agency stated that these allegations were false and that Kim Soo-hyun was never involved in debt collection.
The statement further clarified that after Kim Sae-ron’s DUI incident, Gold Medalist assisted in settling breach-of-contract penalties and damages, reducing her financial burden from 1.14 billion won to 700 million won.
The agency also handled the sale of Kim Sae-ron’s heavily damaged vehicle to cover part of the costs, refuting claims that the company 'took away' her car.
Gold Medalist explained that legal procedures were necessary to avoid potential charges of 'misconduct in business operations' and 'illegal benefit transfers' had they simply canceled the debt without documentation.
The agency emphasized that Kim Soo-hyun had no personal involvement in the matter.
As the controversy unfolds, questions arise about the role of agencies in managing artists’ financial obligations.
Should entertainment companies take on more responsibility in supporting their artists during crises, or is financial accountability solely the artist’s burden?.