Kim Soo Hyun Loses A 1.16 Billion Won ($830,000) Damages Lawsuit Filed By The Brand That Cast Him, Appeals Immediately

Kim Soo Hyun is appealing after partially losing a damages lawsuit brought by a brand that cast him as its model, with the court ordering him to pay 1.16 billion won (about $830,000).

According to legal and entertainment circles on November 13, Civil Division 14 of the Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Moon Hyeon Ho) ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff in a damages lawsuit a health functional food company filed against Kim Soo Hyun and others.

The lawsuit sought 3.96 billion won (about $2.8 million). The court ordered Kim Soo Hyun and his agency Gold Medalist to pay about 1.16 billion won plus interest.

Kim Soo Hyun’s legal representative said, “The advertiser claimed that Kim Soo Hyun violated the duty to maintain dignity under the ad model contract and demanded the full model fee and a penalty on the premise of terminating the contract, but the court dismissed this claim in its entirety.” He added, “The amount the court ordered to be paid is not damages but a refund of the model fee for the period in which the advertiser could not use the ad. What the court partially accepted is the idea that the model fee for the period in which the advertiser could not use the ad should be returned.”

However, he said, “Kim Soo Hyun is a victim of the crime of spreading false information. We cannot accept in any way that an ad model who is a victim should have to return the model fee,” and said an appeal was filed immediately.

Last year, Kim Soo Hyun became embroiled in allegations that he dated the late Kim Sae Ron from when she was a minor and pressured her to repay debts. Kim Soo Hyun’s side countered that while he did date Kim Sae Ron, it was not when she was a minor, and that the recordings released by her bereaved family through the channel Garosero Research Institute were forged using AI.

Kim Soo Hyun’s side filed a complaint for defamation by spreading false information against the late actress’s bereaved family and Kim Se Eui, the operator of Garosero Research Institute. Afterward, Seoul Seongdong Police decided not to refer Kim Soo Hyun’s case involving violation of the Child Welfare Act and false accusation to prosecutors, finding no grounds for suspicion, while Kim Se Eui was detained and indicted on charges including defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, violation of the stalking punishment act, violation of the sexual violence punishment act, attempted coercion and intimidation. The audio files Kim Se Eui presented as evidence on behalf of the bereaved family were found to be manipulated materials generated with AI technology.

Having been cleared, Kim Soo Hyun has shown moves to resume activities in Korea and abroad. On September 19, he appeared as a presenter at the “2026 The Fact Music Awards” (2026 TMA) held at Busan Asiad Main Stadium, his first appearance at an official domestic event in about a year and a half since the controversy. Recently, he also held the fan meeting “OUR FOREVER WITH YOU” in Manila, Philippines, where he shed tears in front of fans.

Source: (A)