It has been nearly three months since South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun, 37, was accused of dating late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor.

Sae Ron was 24 when she was found dead in her home due to apparent suicide on February 16, the date of Soo Hyun’s birthday.

When the scandal first broke, brands including Prada, who had just announced the actor as their ambassador in December 2024, dropped the actor like a hot potato. 

But it seems public opinion is shifting in Soo Hyun’s favour.

While initial allegations by the YouTube channel, Hoverlab, aka Garosero Research Institute were shocking, the lack of evidence has led many to doubt the credibility of the whistle-blower.

Hoverlab’s credibility also took a hit when it falsely reported that the whistle-blower had been stabbed nine times in the neck in New Jersey after refusing a bribe. They later changed the claim to injuries on the right shoulder and left arm but insisted that the attack was masterminded by Soo Hyun.

The FBI was involved and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York later confirmed that no such murder attempt was reported, casting further doubt on the claims. Recent reports raised more questions about the allegations when it was suggested that Soo Hyun was in a three-year-relationship from 2016 to 2019 with another actress, referred to only as “A”  

"A" confirmed he frequently sent her letters during his military service, casting doubt on the timeline suggested in the original allegations.

Soo Hyun has consistently denied dating Sae Ron when she was a minor, insisting that their relationship only began when she was 19 and he was 31.

The Queen of Tears actor has since filed a lawsuit against Hoverlab and Sae Ron’s family, accusing them of defamation, violation of the Information and Communications Network Act, and stalking.

He is reportedly seeking 12 billion won (S$11.3 million) in damages.

His fans also took the opportunity to rally behind Soo Hyun, calling out Hoverlab for spreading rumours.

“Was it all a setup?” asked a netizen. “You can’t ruin someone based on claims without proof,” wrote a fan.

A netizen noted that none of Hoverlab’s claims and statements have held up, commenting: “They have been talking about revealing evidence to the public for months but have produced nothing so far”.

Another even challenged Hoverlab and said, “Unless you have new evidence to show, it seems Kim Soo Hyun has been wronged”.

Despite the recent shift in public perception, damage to his career still remains.

The Disney+ series Knock-Off where Soo Hyun plays the lead still on indefinite hold.

Originally slated for release in April this year, the drama was still missing at a recent Disney+ Korea 2025 content lineup.