Kim Soo-hyun Faces 2.8 Billion Won Lawsuit Over Alleged Minor Relationship Scandal

Actor Kim Soo-hyun's legal battle with advertisers has officially begun.

On the morning of the 21st, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 22 held the first hearing for a lawsuit filed by cosmetic brand A against Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, seeking approximately 2.8 billion won in damages.

Brand A, whose contract with Kim Soo-hyun was set to run until August, announced the termination of their advertising model contract in March. This decision came in the wake of allegations that Kim Soo-hyun was involved in a relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor.

At the time, Kim Soo-hyun was modeling for over ten brands. However, the allegations led many brands, including A, to terminate contracts or remove promotional photos and videos.

Subsequently, in April, some companies that had contracts with Kim Soo-hyun filed lawsuits demanding the return of modeling fees and compensation. Brand A also filed a lawsuit seeking 500 million won in damages. The trial, seven months later, addressed these claims.

Brand A's legal representative argued that Kim Soo-hyun violated his duty to maintain dignity due to the controversy surrounding the late Kim Sae-ron. They claimed that Kim Soo-hyun initially denied the relationship when it was revealed on social media before her death, only to change his stance after her passing. Brand A asserted that even dating a minor, regardless of other factors, constitutes a breach of conduct for a superstar like Kim Soo-hyun.

They further stated that contract breaches require double the modeling fee, plus actual damages incurred, leading them to increase their claim from 500 million won to 2.86 billion won. Brand A also suggested that dating someone from their minor years implies a prior relationship during that period, thus violating the dignity clause.

Conversely, Kim Soo-hyun's legal team vehemently denied the allegations of dating Kim Sae-ron as a minor, stating the relationship began after she became an adult. They argued that his earlier denial of dating rumors occurred before the contract was in place and questioned how it could constitute a breach of conduct. Furthermore, they contended that the 'social misconduct' clause lacks specific grounds for this case and that precedents cited by the plaintiff were not applicable.

Kim Soo-hyun's side also raised concerns about their images still being displayed on A's official websites in Korea and Japan, as well as in offline stores, even after the contract termination announcement in March. A responded that all related materials were removed and that requests to local agencies in Japan to cease usage had been issued.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 13th of next year, as both sides remain at a stark disagreement.

Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun is facing additional lawsuits totaling over 7.3 billion won from companies like Cuckoo Electronics and Trendmaker. Classys has also sought a provisional seizure of 3 billion won worth of assets, which was reportedly granted.

Kim Soo-hyun's agency continues to deny dating Kim Sae-ron as a minor, asserting the relationship started after she came of age. They have filed a lawsuit against the late Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family and others for defamation, seeking 12 billion won in damages.

The core of the dispute lies in whether Kim Soo-hyun's alleged relationship with Kim Sae-ron, particularly during her minority, constitutes a breach of his contractual duty to maintain public image. Netizens are expressing a range of opinions, with some stating, 'Regardless of the outcome, the repercussions will be significant,' and others commenting, 'Hoping the truth will be revealed.'