G-Dragon's 'like' seen as show of support for Kim Soo-hyun

G-Dragon, left, and Kim Soo-hyun / Xportsnews

A simple social media "like" from K-pop star G-Dragon has sparked online discussion after he appeared to support a statement released by actor Kim Soo-hyun's agency, only to later remove the reaction.

Screenshots circulating on Korean online communities Thursday showed G-Dragon had liked an Instagram post summarizing a statement from Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist.

The statement addressed allegations that Kim had dated late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. The claims, which had been raised by the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, were found to be false following an investigation, according to the agency.

"Kim Soo-hyun promised at a press conference a year ago that he would not ask people to simply trust him but would prove the truth," the agency said. "The past year has been devoted solely to keeping that promise. Through legal procedures and a thorough investigation, the truth has finally been established. We sincerely thank everyone who believed in and waited for Kim Soo-hyun."

G-Dragon's apparent endorsement of the post quickly divided opinion online.

Some social media users criticized the singer for engaging with a sensitive controversy, while others viewed the action as a sign of support for a longtime friend.

Kim Soo-hyun / Xportsnews

The two celebrities are known to be close. Kim attended G-Dragon's listening party for his album “Ubermensch” last year, and the pair also appeared together on the MBC variety show “Good Day.”

G-Dragon has previously shown support for Kim by liking overseas media posts related to the actor's appearance on the program.

The singer is also known among fans for frequently liking a wide range of social media content, sometimes attracting unwanted attention in the process.

Earlier, he drew headlines after liking an apology statement posted by singer and actor Cha Eun-woo during a tax-related controversy, a move some interpreted as public support.

He also briefly liked a performance video of Jennie during a period when the two were repeatedly linked by dating rumors before quickly removing the reaction.

As of Friday, G-Dragon's "like" on the Kim Soo-hyun-related post had been removed, fueling further speculation over whether it was an intentional gesture or simply another accidental tap that became a headline.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.