Following Kim Soo-hyun’s recent press conference where he addressed allegations of an underage relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, a wave of online criticism has erupted — but so has a growing countermovement urging restraint and empathy, warning of the emotional toll such public condemnation can take.
In particular, some netizens are recalling the tragic case of actor Lee Sun-kyun, who took his own life while under investigation for drug-related allegations, as well as the recent suicide of former politician Jang Jae-won (father famous rapper Noel), who was embroiled in sexual misconduct accusations. According to these people, these cases serve as reminders of how unrelenting public pressure and media scrutiny can lead to irreversible outcomes.
Meanwhile, at his press conference held on March 31, Kim Soo-hyun tearfully denied all accusations of misconduct, stating that he never had a relationship with the deceased when she was a minor, and added that it is not true that Kim Sae-ron took her life because of neglect from me or financial pressure from his agency.
Despite his emotional delivery, some netizens reacted harshly, asking “Is this a drama shoot?” and accusing the actor of “crocodile tears.”
However, as discourse intensifies, a new layer of concern has emerged online — focusing on the potential mental health consequences of mass public shaming. Netizens are increasingly expressing discomfort with the tone and intensity of the backlash, especially in the context of recent celebrity suicides.
One user wrote, “He may be guilty of something, but how far are we going to push him? Do you want to see another person die because of online hate?”
Others echoed the sentiment, leaving comments such as, “We all saw what happened to Lee Sun-kyun. We need to be careful” and “If you’re not interested in the truth and just want to destroy someone, you’re part of the problem.”
On the other hand, Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team has since filed a criminal defamation complaint against Kim Sae-ron’s family and the operator of the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute. They are also pursuing a civil lawsuit worth 12 billion KRW (approx. $9 million USD) in damages.
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