Actor Kim Soo-hyun is dealing with multiple lawsuits. In connection with the late Kim Sae-ron's underage dating allegations, he has sued the bereaved family and the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, and he is being sued by advertisers affected by privacy controversies.
Kim Soo-hyun is accused of having been in a relationship with the deceased since she was a minor and of pressuring her for debt repayment, following the claims made by the bereaved family after the late Kim Sae-ron's death. In response, Kim Soo-hyun emphasized that the allegations were "groundless" and held a press conference to clarify the allegations, filing a lawsuit for 12 billion won against the bereaved family and the YouTube channel.
As Kim Soo-hyun's fandom has announced legal action against malicious slander and the spread of false information, Kim Soo-hyun's side has added charges against Garosero Research Institute operator Kim Se-yeol for violating the stalking law, continuing the series of lawsuits.
News of lawsuits continues to emerge. According to a media report on the 29th of last month, companies A and B, which had a contract with Kim Soo-hyun for advertising, have recently filed a lawsuit against Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, for the return of modeling fees and damages. The lawsuit amount from companies A and B is about 3 billion won, and it is reported that not only them but also company C and other companies are considering legal action.
While the agency has not made a significant statement regarding the advertisers' damage claims, it is reported that they have been added as defendants in a lawsuit worth about 2.8 billion won. According to one media outlet, company D, which had a modeling contract with Kim Soo-hyun, submitted a lawsuit document to the Seoul Central District Court on the 25th of last month, claiming damages of about 2.8 billion won against Kim Soo-hyun and his agency.
Company D stated that due to the recent allegations and controversies surrounding Kim Soo-hyun's private life, negative public opinion has expanded, making it impossible to maintain the modeling contract, and they intend to claim damages resulting from the termination of the modeling contract against Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, who are responsible. Regarding this, Kim Soo-hyun's agency stated, "It has not yet been confirmed whether a lawsuit has been filed."
Kim Soo-hyun has suffered a significant blow to his image due to the underage dating allegations surrounding the late Kim Sae-ron. The advertising industry, where image and trust are paramount, was the first to react, with about 15 corporations in banking, fashion, and retail that had used Kim Soo-hyun as a model taking measures such as deleting photos and suspending ads, demonstrating the severity of the situation. Although Kim Soo-hyun distributed an official statement and held a press conference presenting "clear evidence," he could not prevent the fallout.
Some estimate that Kim Soo-hyun's average modeling fee ranges from 700 million won to 1 billion won per year, suggesting that the penalty for breach of contract is typically 2 to 3 times that amount, indicating that he may face penalties amounting to about 20 billion won. Conversely, due to the nature of celebrities where unfounded rumors and controversies can arise, there is an opinion that during the legal process, the court may not interpret these matters broadly but rather consider them comprehensively, resulting in an adjustment where the entire or part of the advertising contract amount may be returned.
Despite holding a press conference to address the allegations surrounding him and suing the bereaved family and the YouTube channel, Kim Soo-hyun is currently facing damage claims from the advertising industry. Attention is focused on how Kim Soo-hyun's side will resolve this situation.
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