Who is Lee Chan Hee? Kim Sae Ron’s ex-boyfriend revealed as popular K-pop survival show member

Kim Sae Ron’s family revealed alleged texts linking her to Kim Soo Hyun, a claim his agency denies. Meanwhile, her ex-boyfriend, now identified as K-pop trainee Lee Chan Hee, defended Soo Hyun in an interview.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | March 28, 2025 05:38 AM IST

3 min read

Kim Sae Ron’s ex-boyfriend who defended Kim Soo Hyun amid controversy. (Kim Sae Ron's IG)

Kim Sae Ron’s family held a press conference on March 27, represented by their legal team, where they revealed shocking alleged text exchanges between the late actor and Kim Soo Hyun. They claimed these messages were undeniable proof that the Queen of Tears star dated Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor, a claim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, has repeatedly denied. However, the agency has not issued any further statements since.

Meanwhile, just days ago, Sae Ron’s ex-boyfriend spoke to THE FACT, where he defended Soo Hyun, stating that the actor had nothing to do with Sae Ron’s death. Instead, he blamed her “abusive” husband, whom she had married overseas and was in the process of seeking an annulment from. Though the ex-boyfriend was initially referred to as “Mr. K” to protect his identity, he has now been identified as a K-pop idol trainee.

Also read: Kim Sae Ron’s American husband breaks silence on abuse claims, says ‘Publicise photos if you have’

According to Koreaboo, THE FACT did not fully redact certain personal details in their report, accidentally revealing his name as Lee Chan Hee. A friend of Kim Sae Ron has also claimed that Chan Hee was once a contestant on MBC’s idol audition program, Fan Pick. The K-pop survival show aired from August 30 to October 18, 2023, and reportedly featured 17 contestants competing to secure a spot in the group PICKUS. According to reports, Lee Chan Hee was one of the participants. He was part of the Super Pick team but was eliminated in the show’s final episode. Meanwhile, the top six trainees went on to debut in the project group PICKUS on April 23, 2024.

Also read: Kim Soo Hyun ‘cheated multiple times’ on Kim Sae Ron? Best friend claims, ‘He promised to marry her’

Garosero reveals more information about Lee Chan Hee

Kim Sae Ron’s ex-boyfriend’s identity was revealed by the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute on March 25. According to the channel’s host, Kim Se Eui (who previously shared the ex-husband’s clarification denying allegations of abuse and blackmail), Sae Ron’s former lover was someone she “didn’t even date for a full week before they just became friends.

While Garosero stopped short of posting a clear photo of him, they disclosed nearly all his personal details. Lee Chan Hee has been identified as a Korean man in his mid-20s. His birth year was mentioned as 1999, and he is said to be a resident of Incheon. Allegedly, he continued to contact Kim Sae Ron even after their brief relationship ended, seemingly in an attempt to secure his future. According to the YouTube channel he managed to enter the entertainment industry because of Sae Ron, hoping to benefit from her professional career and connections.

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According to MBC’s Fan Pick profile, Lee Chan Hee was born on January 13, 1999, making him 26 years old. If he is indeed ex-boyfriend “K”, who briefly dated Kim Sae Ron for less than a month before her marriage, this means he would have been 25 or younger at the time of their relationship.

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