Prominent South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has become embroiled in a legal battle after a medical aesthetics company filed for the seizure of his property over an advertising contract dispute, according to local media reports on Wednesday.
The controversy originates from allegations made earlier this year that the 36-year-old "My Love from the Star" actor had been involved with the late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was underage. Kim has consistently stated that their involvement began only after she reached adulthood, but the scandal has nonetheless severely damaged his public image.
Classis, a medical device manufacturer, had engaged Kim as the spokesperson for their Volnewmer beauty device since last year. However, following the controversy, the company terminated its agreement. Subsequently, when Kim allegedly failed to pay breach-of-contract penalties, Classis filed a lawsuit on May 8 seeking 3 billion won (approximately HK$17.32 million) in damages.
On May 20, the Seoul Eastern District Court approved a freeze on Kim's assets, placing a lien on one of his luxury apartments in the upscale Galleria Foret complex in Seoul's Gangnam district. The property, which Kim purchased between 2013 and 2015 during the peak of his career, is valued at about 13.5 billion won (HK$77.93 million).
Kim's agency, Gold Medalist, acknowledged the property seizure and attributed the blame to the controversial YouTube channel "Garosero Research Institute," which was the first to circulate the dating allegations.
The agency expressed that the ongoing defamation by certain media outlets is entirely responsible for this situation and expressed confidence that the truth would emerge through a proper investigation, which they believe will clear Kim's name and nullify the grounds for these lawsuits.
