2.5 Billion KRW Lawsuit Against Kim Soo Hyun Takes Drastic New Turn

In 2025, it was reported that actor Kim Soo Hyun was being sued by multiple advertisers for damages after serious accusations against him arose in relation to the death of actress Kim Sae Ron. A year later, one of those damage suits has taken an unexpected turn after the arrest of Kim Se Ui¸ the YouTuber responsible for publicizing the accusations against the actor.

On July 8, KST, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 45 held the second hearing in the damages lawsuits filed by a brand called Eider against Kim. Eider had appointed the actor as its advertising model in 2025 but moved to court against him and his agency, Gold Medalist, in August 2025 after allegations surfaced that he had dated the late Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor. Eider argued that these accusations harmed the brand’s image and sought ₩2.50 billion KRW (about $1.65 million USD) from the defendants.

During the recent hearing, Eider withdrew its original compensation claim for reputation damage. Instead, they lowered the amount to approximately ₩400 million KRW (about $264,000 USD), only seeking the return of the remaining modeling fees that were agreed upon in the original contract.

However, the court implied that Eider was trying to change its legal strategy after realizing that its original damages claim might not hold up well in the current circumstances, and the judges even questioned whether the revised claim would be legally sustainable either. The court ultimately suggested that Eider consider withdrawing the lawsuit altogether, honoring the original agreement, and letting each party bear its own legal costs.

This hearing marks a significant pivot in Kim Soo Hyun’s ongoing legal battles since it marks the first time an advertiser has withdrawn its multi-billion won claim against the actor since the arrest of Kim Se Ui. The actor is currently facing multiple lawsuits totaling around ₩10.0 billion KRW (about $6.61 million USD). It remains to be seen if Eider’s withdrawal can influence the other brands’ claims as well.