Who Is Won Bin? Everything To Know About Actor Linked To Kim Sae Ron, Kim Soo Hyun’s Controversy

Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun's controversy has escalated and taken a new turn after the late actress's family held the second press conference on May 7 and revealed some 'serious crimes' against the actor. The alleged audio clips and recording shared by the family point to a past relationship that began when Kim Sae Ron was still a minor. Amid all this, renowned actor Won Bin's name grabbed the headlines once again.

The recording, which was reportedly made with Kim Sae Ron’s consent, contains deeply sensitive content. In it, the actress discusses the nature of her relationship with Kim Soo Hyun and expresses how others perceived her as “the crazy one” for revealing the relationship. The audio also accuses the actor of using a derogatory nickname for a former idol girlfriend, adding another layer of ethical concerns to the allegations.

The man who provided the recording, known as the whistleblower or Mr A, is a Korean living in New Jersey. However, the controversy has turned darker as Mr A was reportedly attacked shortly after submitting the audio. He was stabbed nine times in what is now being investigated as an attempted murder. U.S. federal authorities have taken over the case, with the FBI handling the investigation due to the cross-border implications. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack.

Reports suggest that Mr A was offered a ₩4 billion (approximately USD 3 million) settlement to suppress the recording, but he allegedly turned it down, refusing to bury the evidence. In a heartbreaking message, Mr. A’s wife spoke out, revealing the threats and surveillance the family endured, as well as the emotional toll of the attack. Amid this, the whistleblower’s wife thanked the actor Won Bin for his discreet support during the crisis. Some speculate that he may have previously assisted his co-star Kim Sae Ron financially during her struggles.

Who is Won Bin, and how is he linked to the controversy?

The 'legendary dragon' rose to fame after featuring in the 2000s television series Autumn In My Heart. After making his debut in 1997 with Propose, the actor has done only five films to date. It's been 15 years, Won Bin has quit acting. He was last seen in 2010's The Man from Nowhere, which was the highest-grossing film in South Korea.

In this career, Won Bin also co-starred with Kim Sae Ron in a 2010 film. Her performance earned her two Best Actress awards at the Korean Film Awards and the Max Film Awards, and she was also nominated for a third at the Baeksang Arts Awards. Despite only working together on this one project, their connection seemed to extend beyond the film set.

After filming wrapped, Won Bin reportedly gifted Kim Sae Ron several personal items, including a pink laptop, a plush toy, a hairbrush, and a blanket. In 2017, it was also reported that Won Bin quit smoking because of his close work with Kim Sae Ron, who was only 10 at the time. He wanted to be considerate of her, and his decision to remain smoke-free continued long after the filming of The Man From Nowhere ended.

Following Kim Sae Ron's tragic death in February 2025, Won Bin sent a wreath to her wake and attended the funeral. Media reports mentioned that he appeared deeply saddened and left quickly to avoid too much attention, as he is rarely seen in public.

After his name once again made headlines in connection with the ongoing controversy, Won Bin's representatives open up about his role in it. As per Koreaboo, they said, "We don’t know if the informant is even a real person. I also don’t understand why the informant’s wife is thanking Won Bin. There is nothing related other than attending the funeral to mourn the deceased. From the context, we understood it as them referring to Kim Sae Ron’s funeral. The informant’s wife expressed gratitude towards Won Bin, but did not say she received any help."

"Previously, rumours spread that Won Bin sent a large amount of condolence money to her funeral, but Won Bin’s representative stated that this was not true and that he sent a similar amount to everyone else. We hope that other young and talented actresses like Kim Sae Ron don’t end their lives like that again. We don’t want Won Bin to be mentioned in strange ways," the statement further added.

This isn’t the first time Won Bin’s name has come up in the ongoing controversy. Back in March, Kim Sae Ron’s aunt, who is a close family friend, spoke out in an exposé by Kim Se Ui from the Garo Sero Institute. Shortly after, a netizen left a comment online suggesting that Won Bin knew about Kim Sae Ron’s struggles with a large KRW 700 million debt to her former agency, Gold Medalist. The comment allegedly claimed that Won Bin had planned to pay off her debt for her.

However, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, has vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that the recording is fabricated or generated by artificial intelligence.

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