The investigation into allegations that Kim Soo Hyun dated the late actress Kim Sae Ron while she was still a minor has effectively come to an end, after prosecutors declined to request any further investigation.
According to legal sources on September 7th, prosecutors returned the case records to police without seeking a supplementary investigation or reinvestigation into complaints accusing Kim of violating the Child Welfare Act and making a false accusation. The decision leaves intact the Seoul Seongdong Police Station’s July 29th decision not to refer the case for prosecution due to insufficient evidence.
The controversy began in March 2025, when claims emerged that Kim had been in a relationship with Kim Sae Ron from the time she was a minor. Her family later filed a complaint in May 2025.
Police spent more than a year reviewing materials submitted by the family, statements from relevant parties and evidence concerning the pair’s relationship. Investigators ultimately concluded that there was insufficient objective evidence to establish the allegations and decided not to refer the case to prosecutors.
Kim’s side has consistently maintained that while he did date Kim Sae Ron, their relationship began only after she became an adult and denied claims that they had dated while she was underage.
The allegations dealt a major blow to Kim’s career, leading to a sharp reduction in public appearances and disruptions to advertising and acting projects. Since the police decision, however, he has begun making public appearances again and has reportedly expressed a desire to return to acting.
With prosecutors choosing not to order additional investigation, the criminal investigation stemming from the underage dating and so-called “grooming” allegations is now effectively concluded, nearly 16 months after the complaint was filed.
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