Kim Soo Hyun Wins Lawsuit Over 570 Million Won Contract Fee Dispute With Advertiser

Actor Kim Soo Hyun has won a lawsuit filed by an advertiser seeking the return of roughly 570 million won in contract fees.

The Seoul Eastern District Court’s 13th Civil Division dismissed on the 27th a claim filed by Swiss watch brand Mido against Kim Soo Hyun’s agency Gold Medalist, seeking the return of approximately 570 million won in contract fees.

The brand had used Kim Soo Hyun as an advertising model since 2020, renewing the contract annually. In November 2024, it paid a modeling fee of 900 million won and extended the contract term by one year.

However, after controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun and the late Kim Sae Ron erupted last year, the brand terminated the contract and filed suit seeking the return of approximately 570 million won corresponding to the remaining contract period.

Mido argued that the controversy had damaged Kim Soo Hyun’s commercial value as an advertising model, giving grounds for contract termination. Gold Medalist countered, stating, “The controversy stemmed from a fabricated, false exposé by a third party, and there is no fault attributable to Kim Soo Hyun himself.”

The court ruled that the grounds for termination claimed by Mido did not hold up, and dismissed the claim in its entirety.

The ruling drew particular attention as the first court decision to come out of Kim Soo Hyun’s ongoing legal disputes with advertisers. Kim Soo Hyun’s side is currently involved in legal disputes worth roughly 10 billion won over damages and contract fee returns with advertisers including Mido as well as IDER, Prombiome, Classys, Cuckoo Electronics, and Trendmaker.

Investigations into allegations surrounding the late Kim Sae Ron have also recently reached a series of conclusions.

Kim Se Eui, head of the Rosero Research Institute (Garosero Institute), had continuously raised allegations since March of last year that Kim Soo Hyun dated the late Kim Sae Ron starting when she was a minor. However, investigative authorities determined that the audio recordings of the deceased and the KakaoTalk conversations between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron that Kim Se Eui’s side presented as evidence had been fabricated. Kim Se Eui was indicted while in custody this past June on charges including defamation by stating false facts, violation of the Anti-Stalking Act, coercion, and attempted extortion.

Kim Soo Hyun himself also received a non-referral decision from police last month regarding allegations of violating the Child Welfare Act (child abuse) that had been raised in connection with the late Kim Sae Ron.

Following this, Kim Soo Hyun has resumed activities. Last month, he filmed an advertisement and photoshoot for Philippine fashion brand BENCH, sharing behind-the-scenes photos on his own social media as he resumed official activities for the first time in about one year and four months.

Source: (A)