Actor Park Seo Joon gets tangled in Kim Soo Hyun-Kim Sae Ron controversy over Instagram caption

South Korean actor Park Seo Joon has unexpectedly found himself embroiled in the ongoing controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun and the late Kim Sae Ron. Speculation erupted following a recent Instagram post by the ‘Itaewon Class’ star, leading to widespread online chatter about his potential involvement in the situation.

Park Seo Joon’s Instagram post sparks speculation

The scandal involving Kim Soo Hyun has intensified after allegations surfaced claiming he had a romantic relationship with Kim Sae Ron while she was still a minor. Leaked messages and resurfaced reports suggest their relationship may have lasted for six years. Additionally, accusations have emerged against Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, for allegedly playing a role in Kim Sae Ron’s financial struggles before her tragic passing.

The controversy gained momentum due to revelations made by the Garosero Research Institute, a YouTube channel known for exposing the secrets of South Korea’s celebrity elite. The channel has released content implicating Gold Medalist in unethical practices that reportedly worsened Kim Sae Ron’s circumstances, fueling public criticism.

Amid this, Park Seo Joon shared a photo from his trip to Paris on March 16, captioned, "What was I doing in Paris? Garo?" While seemingly innocent, the post took on a different meaning when the Garosero Research Institute speculated that “garo” could be a subtle reference to their channel. Given the timing of his post, at the height of the Kim Soo Hyun controversy, rumours began circulating that he might be indirectly commenting on the scandal.

Linking ‘Paris’ and ‘Garo’ to Kim Soo Hyun

The situation escalated further when Garosero Research Institute pointed out that Kim Soo Hyun allegedly had the nickname “YouTuber Kim Pari.” This led to speculation that Park Seo Joon’s mention of “Paris” could be a veiled reference to Kim Soo Hyun. The term “Garo” in Korean means “horizontal,” which coincidentally relates to messages exchanged between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron, where they referred to “horizontal” and “vertical.”

The YouTube channel’s host, Kim Se Ui, commented on the matter, stating, "Last night, I checked Park Seo Joon’s Instagram. Isn’t it quite meaningful?" He further added, "I even left a comment there. I support Park Seo Joon. Their friendship is truly weaker than a piece of paper."

Fan reactions and industry commentary

Park Seo Joon’s fans quickly came to his defense, dismissing the allegations as baseless. They pointed out that he has a long-standing habit of referencing photo orientations in his captions. In a previous post from December 2024, he used the word “vertical” to describe a portrait-mode image, leading supporters to argue that “garo” in his recent post was merely referring to the landscape format of his Paris photo.

Critics of the Garosero Research Institute accused the channel of creating unfounded connections to stir further controversy. Many netizens noted that the timing of Park Seo Joon’s post was likely coincidental and had no connection to the ongoing scandal.

Kim Soo Hyun’s relationship with Park Seo Joon under scrutiny

The controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun has also led to scrutiny of his friendship with Park Seo Joon. YouTuber Kim Se Ui claimed their relationship was "weaker than a piece of paper." In a past interview, Park Seo Joon acknowledged that Kim Soo Hyun helped him secure a meeting with a top agency after his military service. Recalling the moment, Park Seo Joon stated, "He handed me the contract, confidently saying, ‘This is a standard contract, but if you’re uncertain, you can consult a lawyer.’ Since it was my first time visiting an agency, I told them I would review it and get back to them. The company was so big that, in the end, I signed with them."

Kim Se Ui suggested that Park Seo Joon’s Instagram post might be subtly hinting at something controversial. "YouTuber Kim Paris is being exposed by Garosero Research Institute. We will work even harder to clear actress Kim Sae Ron’s name. Park Seo Joon, fighting!" he commented.

Kim Soo Hyun’s response to the growing scandal

As the controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun deepened, Gold Medalist released a statement on March 18 denying allegations made by Kim Sae Ron’s family. The family claimed the agency pressured her regarding debt repayment and demanded compensation for damages. Gold Medalist refuted these claims, stating that a communication sent to Kim Sae Ron in March 2024 was not a repayment demand but an attempt to clarify their position.

Additionally, the agency denied accusations of defamation towards actress Seo Yea Ji and rejected HoverLab’s claims about a photo allegedly featuring Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron. According to Gold Medalist, "In addition, the family has made many false claims against Gold Medalist and Kim Soo Hyun. For example, they claimed that our company did not attend the deceased’s funeral. However, we visited the funeral hall on February 17 and February 19, 2025, to meet the family, offer our condolences, and leave a wreath and condolence money."

Where is Kim Soo Hyun now?

Amid ongoing speculation about Kim Soo Hyun’s whereabouts, some reports suggested he had left South Korea to avoid the controversy. However, on March 19, Koreaboo quoted an alleged close friend revealing otherwise.

The friend stated, "Kim Soo Hyun is currently staying with his family. I’m not sure if he is staying with his cousin or his father, but he is relying on his family to help provide stability and comfort."

The source also claimed that all official statements released by Gold Medalist are cross-checked by Kim Soo Hyun before publication, adding, "The official statements that are being released by Gold Medalist are being shared after cross-checking with Kim Soo Hyun himself."

Kim Sae-ron, who had faced severe career setbacks following a 2022 DUI incident, reportedly struggled with financial difficulties. Reports suggest she accumulated a debt of 700 million won due to the case. Gold Medalist allegedly pressured her to repay the amount. However, Kim Soo-hyun’s representatives have denied these accusations, stating that he never demanded any financial repayment. They also expressed willingness to meet with her mother to clarify matters.

On February 16, Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her residence in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday.