A video of actress Kim Sae-Ron on a subway that made the rounds on social media quickly reignited controversy about her dating timeline with actor Kim Soo-Hyun.

The footage was initially recorded in May 2019 at Seoul Station.

It shows Kim Sae-ron appearing affectionate with a man, leading some netizens to question the timing of her relationship with Kim Soo-hyun.

The couple's relationship was officially revealed around August 2018, with Kim Soo-hyun confirming it following his discharge from the military.

However, with the video resurfacing, the speculer posted that the relationship may have begun even earlier than reported.

YouTuber Lee Jin-ho weighed in on the controversy in a video released on April 8, 2025.

In the video, Mr. Lee claimed that the couple's image was taken in May 2019.

He noted in the video that Kim Soo-hyun's relationship with Kim Sae-ron began after his discharge from the military, which he completed in mid-2019 and ended in the fall of 2020.

"There's no evidence of a romantic relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron during his military service, which lasted from July 2, 2016, to mid-2019," Lee stated. "

All military records confirm that he fulfilled his duties diligently."

The controversy also centers around claims made by the Garo Sero Institute, which suggested that private text messages between Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun could imply a connection before the official timeline.

Lee dismissed these claims, saying, "Documents called flirting before establishing a proper romantic relationship."

Lee described Kim Sae-ron as someone who was openly affectionate and sociable, noting that she was known for publicly holding hands, hugging, and kissing in various public settings.

He also emphasized that she had dated multiple people during high school and her college years, prior to her relationship with Kim Soo-hyun.

As the clip of Kim Sae-ron's subway PDA spread online, reactions from the public have been mixed.

Some social media users have called for the late actress to be left in peace, while others have expressed concerns about the motives behind the renewed attention.

"Enough already. What more do you want from someone who has passed away?" one commenter wrote.

Another voiced frustration, saying, "It's only right to uncover the truth... No one should be left feeling wronged."

Despite the controversy, official statements from Kim Sae-ron's family and the Garo Sero Institution have yet to be released in response to the newly surfaced video.

For the time being, Kim Sae-ron's dating timeline continues to be the subject of major division and debate, both in terms of the public understanding of them and their motives.