The family of the late Korean actress Kim Sa-eron criticized the response of embattled actor Kim Soo-hyun.
"We read and reread Gold Medalist's statement. It reads like it was written from the perspective of the legal team, who only care about the ability of the evidence and what kind of evidence to use as evidence, which we only see in the political world. Don't justify your actions by bringing up embezzlement out of the blue," the family said in a statement released through the YouTube channel HoverLab (Garosero Research Institute).
This was in reference to the demand letter sent by a law firm hired by Gold Medalist to Kim Sae-ron, demanding her to pay the 700 million won in damages paid by the company to the production company of the drama “Bloodhounds” after Kim Sae-ron’s drunk driving incident in May 2022.
Kim Sae-ron (Instagram)
Kim Soo-hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron (Screenshot from HoverLab's video on YouTube)
Kim Sae-ron sent a text message to Kim Soo-hyun, begging him to help her. He did not reply to her.
The family said Kim Sae-ron called Gold Medalist officials but no one answered the calls.
"No one at Gold Medalist ever told Sae-ron not to be surprised, as they were sending a certified letter according to company procedure due to the embezzlement issue. After receiving the certified letter, Sae-ron called company officials one by one, but no one answered their calls or gave them an answer. Sae-ron continued to contact them to see if it was Kim Soo-hyun's will or the company's," they said.
The family earlier demanded Kim Soo-hyun admit and apologize that he dated Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. In a statement, Gold Medalist said Kim Soo-hyun dated her when she was an adult.
Meanwhile, the family will file a defamation suit against YouTube Lee Jin-ho on March 17 and a press conference is set at 2 p.m. KST.
The lawyer hired by the family for the lawsuit said, "We plan to hold a statement announcement at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at 2 p.m. on March 17. The bereaved family hired a lawyer for the first time and we will explain the background as to why we had no choice but to file a lawsuit against YouTuber Lee Jin-ho.”
They family said in YouTube videos, Lee Jin-ho defamed Kim Sae-ron.
Kim Sae-ron was found dead on Feb. 16, Kim Soo-hyun's birthday.