'Were they dating in 2018?'

Actors Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron's sides are at an impasse over the 'dating period.' With ongoing evidence releases and rebuttals from both sides, the situation is becoming increasingly complicated.

The late Kim Sae-ron's side took a hard line by releasing documents they claim are the original KakaoTalk messages. On the 2nd, the YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute' (Gaseyeon) released what they claim is a portion of the original KakaoTalk messages while countering allegations from Kim Soo-hyun's side that they manipulated evidence. On that day, Gaseyeon said, "We retrieved five mobile phones, four laptops, and a tablet recently and completed the forensics," showcasing the original KakaoTalk messages that had been previously reconstructed through images.

In a released video, Gaseyeon presented KakaoTalk messages captured on April 13, 2018, when Kim Sae-ron was 17 years old. The messages included sentiments like, "I miss you, and when I need you, you are unreachable, but first, when I need you, you're always gone," and "I find it uncomfortable and stressful that you don't contact me, so if you don't make the effort, I won't meet you anymore."

Earlier, Kim Soo-hyun's side announced that they had filed additional complaints against Gaseyeon's representative Kim Se-yeol for violating the stalking punishment law. They included materials stating that while Kim Sae-ron was indeed a minor in 2018, they were not in a dating relationship. The materials provided by Kim Soo-hyun's side included a total of 11 photos (including video captures). With two exceptions, all the photos previously released by Gaseyeon were taken when Kim Sae-ron was 20 years old, having just turned 18.

Attention was drawn to the acknowledgment of videos that were indeed filmed in 2018. Dubbed the 'Soju date,' the video depicts Kim Sae-ron preparing dakbokkeumtang for Kim Soo-hyun in a space visible from home (or bringing it), while Kim Soo-hyun eats it. Gaseyeon questioned, "What do you think happened with a minor drinking soju at 11:20 p.m.?"

In response, Kim Soo-hyun's side acknowledged, "It was indeed filmed in June 2018," but asserted that "the location is the APT. where Kim Soo-hyun resides with his family. Kim Sae-ron visited during Kim Soo-hyun's vacation, and Kim Soo-hyun's family was present as well. At that time, the two were not in a romantic relationship."

Another document appears to show KakaoTalk messages exchanged between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron during Kim Soo-hyun's military leave. In the messages, Kim Sae-ron expressed her disappointment at their lack of communication, to which Kim Soo-hyun replied, "I was wrong," asking for forgiveness.

Gaseyeon claimed, "This is generally behavior exhibited by a man who cheats," while Kim Soo-hyun's side acknowledged, "It is true that the KakaoTalk messages are between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron" but said, "In April 2018, he had a two-week leave during which they exchanged KakaoTalk messages, but they did not meet. At that time, they were not in a dating relationship and began seeing each other only after the summer of 2019."

Kim Soo-hyun's stance has generated further ripples. While one can visit a home without being in a relationship, and it is normal to feel disappointment when unable to meet, claims about letters left by Kim Sae-ron and assertions from the bereaved family suggest that Kim Sae-ron believed the two were in a romantic relationship at the time (the initially disclosed relationship period by the family is from Nov. 19, 2015, to July 7, 2021).

If they were not in a romantic relationship, how should we view the two individuals sharing a meal at home at night and expressing disappointment over not meeting, while one side claims to have been wrong? Questions have arisen.

If Kim Soo-hyun's assertion is correct, did he share a deep friendship without crossing lines with the minor, Kim Sae-ron, or was it an inappropriate situation? Did Kim Soo-hyun simply maintain relationships normally while Kim Sae-ron alone considered him a boyfriend? Some argue that if both parties are correct from their perspectives, the meanings of 'dating' and 'lover' may have differed for the two.

Even so, this does not resolve the issue. Discrepancies in views on 'dating relationships' commonly exist in male-female dynamics; however, in this case, because one party is a minor, the balance of power differs, necessitating a cautious approach. Even if they were not in a romantic relationship, the video and KakaoTalk messages acknowledged by Kim Soo-hyun's side suggest that he was seen as being quite close to the underage Kim Sae-ron. Kim Soo-hyun's side has again claimed, while acknowledging the authenticity of the 2018 photos and videos, that they were 'not dating,' making the clarification of what constitutes a 'romantic relationship' a more critical issue in this case.

[Photo] OSEN DB, gold medalist

[OSEN]