According to The Times of Indiaduring a press conference on Wednesday, Kim Sae Ron’s family played the voice recording, in which a voice believed to be Kim Sae Ron’s states: “I dated Kim Soo Hyun. You might say I’m crazy and not believe me, but I dated him since I was in middle school, and we broke up after I went to college.”

The recording also includes a statement where the voice accuses Kim Soo Hyun and his agency Gold Medalist of being “really scary” and willing to do anything.

The family presented the recording as evidence supporting their claim that Kim Sae-ron had a six-year relationship with Kim Soo Hyun, starting when she was 15, which the actor has denied.

In response, Gold Medalist issued a statement shortly after the press conference, dismissing the recording as “fake” and allegedly created using artificial intelligence (AI).

The scandal involving Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun first gained traction on March 10 when the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, also known as Hoverlab, aired an interview with a woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt, who made accusations regarding the relationship between the two actors.

The family of the late actress later accused Kim Soo Hyun of demanding repayment of 700 million won (US$476,969), which they say caused her distress leading up to her death. They claimed the money was provided by Kim Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist to help manage the fallout from her 2022 DUI incident, which had a severe impact on her career.

Gold Medalist has denied all allegations of an underage relationship, stating that their involvement began in mid-2019, after Kim Sae Ron had turned 18, and lasted until late 2020. The agency has also confirmed that they have filed legal action against Garo Sero Institute and the individual claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt.

Despite these denials, the controversy has taken a significant toll on Kim Soo Hyun’s public image. The actor has lost several major brand endorsements, seen a significant decline in social media followers, and reportedly relinquished his position as South Korea’s highest-paid actor.

At 37, Kim Soo Hyun is one of South Korea’s top stars, internationally recognized for his roles in popular dramas such as “Dream High,” “Moon Embracing the Sun,” “My Love from the Star,” “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” and “Queen of Tears.”

Kim Sae Ron was found dead at age 25 in her Seoul home on Feb. 16. Authorities have ruled out foul play, and her funeral was held on Feb. 19.

Before her death, she was known for her breakout role in the 2009 film “A Brand New Life,” becoming the youngest South Korean actress to attend the Cannes Film Festival. She was also the youngest-ever nominee for Best Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

Her career took a downward turn after the DUI scandal in 2022, leading to the loss of multiple roles and endorsement deals.