"No Fault on Our Part": Kim Soo-hyun Wins Lawsuit Over Return of 500 Million Won Advertising Contract Fee

*This content was translated by AI.

Gold Medalist, the agency representing actor Kim Soo-hyun, has secured a final victory in a lawsuit filed by watch brand Mido seeking the return of an advertising contract fee.

According to legal sources on the 11th, the Seoul Eastern District Court's Civil Collegiate Panel No. 13 (Presiding Judge Choi Su-jin) ruled on the 27th that Mido's lawsuit against Gold Medalist and others for the return of a contract fee was entirely dismissed.

Since Mido did not file an appeal by the deadline of the 10th, the first-instance judgment ruling in favor of the defendant became final.

Mido had entered into its first advertising model contract with Kim Soo-hyun in December 2020 and has renewed the agreement annually since then. However, following allegations regarding Kim Soo-hyun's private life with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, Mido unilaterally terminated the contract in May last year. The company subsequently filed a lawsuit requesting the return of approximately 577 million won in contract fees corresponding to the remaining period of the agreement.

Mido reportedly argued that regardless of whether there was fault on Kim Soo-hyun's part, the model's commercial value had been damaged, constituting grounds for contract termination and requiring the return of the contract fees for the remaining period.

However, the court determined that no valid grounds for contract termination existed and rejected Mido's claims.

Following this controversy, Kim Soo-hyun suspended activities and pursued legal countermeasures. Notably, the YouTube channel 'Garo-Sero Research Institute' Kim Se-ui (CEO), which had raised allegations surrounding Kim Soo-hyun, was arrested in June on charges including violation of the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation). Additionally, a decision was made not to prosecute Kim Soo-hyun on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act and false accusations related to his alleged relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron due to insufficient evidence. These developments appear to have influenced the court's ruling.

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*This content was translated by AI.