[Exclusive]Kim Soo-hyun’s agency wins lawsuit over return of contract fee worth over 500 million won.. Court rules: “No grounds for contract termination”

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Swiss watch brand Mido lost a lawsuit against Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, regarding the return of advertising contract fees.

According to StarNews’ investigation on the 27th, Seoul Eastern District Court’s Civil Division No. 13 rejected Mido’s claim for the return of contract fees totaling over 570 million won filed against Gold Medalist.

Previously, Mido had signed an advertising model contract with Kim Soo-hyun in 2020 and renewed it annually. In November 2024, Mido paid a contract fee of 900 million won and extended the contract for one year. However, after scandals surrounding Kim Soo-hyun emerged, Mido terminated the contract and filed a lawsuit demanding the return of the contract fee corresponding to the remaining contract period.

Mido argued that “since the model’s commercial value was damaged, a proportional return of the contract fee is required.” In contrast, Gold Medalist countered that “the controversy stems from fabricated false allegations by third parties and does not involve any fault on the part of the model himself.”

The court did not accept Mido’s arguments. It was reported that the court rejected Mido’s claim after determining that no grounds for contract termination existed.

In addition to this lawsuit involving Mido, Kim Soo-hyun is reportedly engaged in legal disputes worth over 10 billion won related to damages and return of contract fees with advertisers including Eider, Prombio, Classis, Kukje Electronics, and Trend Maker. Attention is focused on whether this ruling will affect ongoing disputes with other advertisers.

Kim Soo-hyun was previously embroiled in controversy over allegations that he dated the late actress Kim Sae-ron during their minor years. The CEO of Kim Sae-ron’s “Horizontal and Vertical Research Institute,” Kim Se-yeon, has continued to claim since March last year through YouTube broadcasts and other platforms that Kim Soo-hyun dated the late Kim Sae-ron and bears responsibility for her death.

As a result of this fallout, the release of Disney+’s series “Knock Off,” starring Kim Soo-hyun, was temporarily suspended. Kim Se-yeon held a press conference on behalf of the deceased’s family and released materials including an alleged voice recording of the late Kim Sae-ron and KakaoTalk conversations with Kim Soo-hyun.

However, investigative authorities determined that the voice recording files released by Kim Se-yeon were fabricated using generative artificial intelligence (AI), and that the KakaoTalk conversation contents between Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron were also manipulated.

Consequently, the Prosecution Service arrested and indicted Kim Se-ui (CEO) on June 23 last year on charges including violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation by spreading false facts), violation of the Special Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes, violation of the Special Act on Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (distribution of recordings made with cameras, etc.), threats, and attempted coercion.

Separately, Kim Soo-hyun received a decision not to prosecute last month on charges including violation of the Child Welfare Act (child abuse). Recently, he has resumed activities by attending events such as “Mahakarya RCTI 37,” an event celebrating the 37th anniversary of RCTI’s launch held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original