Imagine this: it’s 2017, and a South Korean film called Real hits theaters with all the makings of a gritty neo-noir hit. It’s got Kim Soo Hyun, one of K-drama’s biggest stars, in the lead, and it’s directed by his half-brother, Lee Sa Rang. Throw in Sully—a bold K-pop idol turned actress—and you’ve got a recipe for buzz.
But instead of applause, Real sparked a firestorm that left Sully battered by public backlash and ended in tragedy.
Fast forward to March 2025, and this messy chapter is roaring back to life, fueled by a new scandal tying Kim Soo Hyun to another late actress, Kim Sae Ron, and cryptic posts from Sully’s brother.
So, what’s the deal with Real, and why can’t we let it go? Let’s dive in.
The “Real” Disaster: More Than a Bad Movie
Back in June 2017, Real promised a dark tale of crime and betrayal. Kim Soo Hyun starred as Jang Tae-yeong, a slick crime boss, while Sully played a supporting role that included some explicit scenes. Directed by Lee Sa Rang (a.k.a. Lee Jae-hyun), the film tanked hard. Critics tore it apart—MaxMovie dubbed it “one of the most disastrous films ever made” for its shaky plot and sloppy editing. But the real chaos erupted off-screen.
Within 12 hours of the premiere, illegally snapped photos of Sully’s nude scenes leaked online, igniting a social media frenzy. CJ Entertainment, the distributor, tried to scrub the images and threatened lawsuits, but the damage was irreversible. Sully, already a lightning rod for trolls due to her outspoken persona, faced a torrent of slut-shaming and hate. Kim Soo Hyun? His career sailed on untouched. Fans and critics started pointing fingers, asking why he and the filmmakers—especially his half-brother—didn’t step up to shield Sully from the storm.
Sully: The Rebel Who Paid the Price
If you don’t know Sully, here’s the quick rundown. Born Choi Jin-ri, she burst onto the scene as a child actress in 2005, then became a K-pop sensation with f(x) in 2009. She wasn’t your typical idol—she talked openly about mental health, women’s rights, and the suffocating pressures of fame. That honesty made her a hero to some and a target to others. Her role in Real was supposed to be a daring pivot to serious acting, but it backfired horribly. The leaked scenes fueled years of harassment, and on October 14, 2019, Sully was found dead at 25. Authorities suspected suicide, linking it to depression worsened by relentless cyberbullying. Her death sent shockwaves through the industry, exposing the dark side of K-entertainment’s glossy facade.
Lee Sa Rang: Nepotism or Bad Luck?
Then there’s Lee Sa Rang, the director with a curious backstory. He’s Kim Soo Hyun’s half-brother and a co-founder of Gold Medalist, the agency managing Kim’s career. Before Real, Lee had zero directing credits and used aliases, which some say was to dodge scrutiny over his family ties. The film’s flop and Sully’s fallout only amplified whispers of nepotism—did Real exist more to prop up the Kim family than to tell a story? Whether fair or not, Lee’s role added a layer of intrigue to an already messy saga.
2025: The Kim Sae Ron Connection
Now, let’s jump to March 2025. Kim Soo Hyun is back in the headlines, but not for a new drama. This time, it’s about Kim Sae Ron, another actress who died young—her passing confirmed as suicide in February 2025. Rumors exploded that Kim Soo Hyun dated her when she was a minor, backed by claims from her family and a YouTube exposé by Garosero Research Institute. Brands like Prada dropped him faster than you can say “scandal,” and Gold Medalist scrambled to deny it all. Sound familiar? Like Sully, Kim Sae Ron faced crushing public scrutiny—hers after a DUI crash—and struggled under agency pressure before her death. Both women, tied to Kim Soo Hyun professionally (and, with Kim Sae Ron, allegedly personally), met tragic ends, leaving fans wondering about eerie parallels.
Sully’s Brother Drops a Bombshell
Here’s where it gets wild. Amid the Kim Sae Ron mess, Sully’s brother, Choi Geon Hee, started posting on social media. One message read, “My life, your life, all of our lives are ‘Real,'” with “Real” pointedly in quotes. Another? “Mr. Kim, I have a lot to say, but I can’t. You’re going to fall from your high position, so you better hold on tight.” Netizens went nuts, seeing it as a dig at Kim Soo Hyun. Choi later backpedaled, saying it wasn’t an attack, but the damage was done—the internet was abuzz, dragging Real back into the spotlight. Was he hinting at old grudges or unseen truths from the film’s days? We don’t know, but it’s got everyone talking.
Why It Matters: Patterns, Not Coincidences
So, why are we still dissecting a 2017 flop in 2025? It’s bigger than nostalgia. The Real controversy—and its 2025 revival—lays bare some ugly truths about K-entertainment. Sully and Kim Sae Ron were young women chewed up by an industry that thrives on perfection but punishes imperfection harshly, especially for women. Kim Soo Hyun’s name keeps popping up, and while he’s not directly blamed for their deaths, his silence then (with Sully) and now (with Kim Sae Ron) raises questions. Did he, or Gold Medalist, do enough to support them? Sully’s brother’s posts hint there might be more to Real’s story—maybe mistreatment, maybe neglect—that’s yet to surface.
This isn’t just about one actor or one film. It’s about systemic double standards, where male stars often weather storms unscathed while female stars drown in them. The leaked scenes from Real, the slut-shaming of Sully, the pressures on Kim Sae Ron—they’re symptoms of a culture that’s long overdue for a reckoning. And with the public now demanding answers, the past isn’t staying buried.
Key Events at a Glance
| Date | What Happened | Why It’s Big |
|---|---|---|
| June 2017 | Real releases; Sully’s nude scenes leak, backlash begins | Kicks off the controversy |
| Oct 2019 | Sully dies, suspected suicide tied to bullying | Shows the stakes of the fallout |
| Feb 2025 | Kim Sae Ron dies by suicide | Sets the stage for a new scandal |
| Mar 2025 | Kim Soo Hyun linked to Kim Sae Ron dating rumors; brands ditch him | Echoes Real, reignites old wounds |
| Mar 2025 | Sully’s brother posts cryptic jabs, possibly at Kim Soo Hyun | Ties past to present, stirs speculation |
The Takeaway
The Real controversy isn’t just a dusty footnote—it’s a live wire, crackling with unresolved pain and unanswered questions. Sully’s brother’s words, the Kim Sae Ron allegations, and the public’s growing outrage all point to one thing: the truth matters, and it’s not fading quietly. Whether Kim Soo Hyun falls from his “high position” or not, this saga is a wake-up call for an industry that can’t keep running from its shadows. So, grab your popcorn—this story’s far from over.
