[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.

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 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, following scandals surrounding Kim Soo-hyun, 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 leading to contract termination, a proportional return of the contract fee is required." In contrast, Gold Medalist countered that "the controversy stems from fabricated false disclosures 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 grounds for contract termination were not established.

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

Kim Soo-hyun previously became embroiled in controversy over allegations that he dated the late actress Kim Sae-ron during their minor years. Kim Se-yeon, CEO of Hapjeong Research Institute, 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+ series 'Knock Off,' starring Kim Soo-hyun, was temporarily suspended. Kim Se-yeon held a press conference on behalf of the bereaved family and released materials including an alleged voice recording of the late Kim Sae-ron and purported 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 content between Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron was also manipulated.

Consequently, the Prosecution Service arrested and indicted Kim Se-ui (CEO) on June 23 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 shown signs of resuming 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.