Kim Soo-hyun faces major rulings in lawsuits totaling over 10 billion won

Actor Kim Soo-hyun faces critical legal battles as advertisers seek over 10 billion won in damages following private life controversies. A 3.96 billion won lawsuit from FromBIO is expected to conclude this month, while a 2.8 billion won claim from a cosmetics company awaits a sentencing date on January 22 next year.

Actor Kim Soo-hyun, whose activities were stalled following controversies regarding his private life, is set to face a series of first-instance rulings in large-scale damages lawsuits brought by advertisers. The sentencing date for a lawsuit seeking approximately 2.8 billion won filed by a cosmetics company has been set for January next year, while a 3.96 billion won lawsuit with the health functional food company FromBIO is expected to conclude this month. As the controversies surrounding Kim Soo-hyun escalate into legal battles, attention is focused on how responsibility for the termination of advertising contracts will be determined.

The 22nd Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court has designated January 22 next year as the sentencing date for the damages claim filed by cosmetics brand A against Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, GOLDMEDALIST. The claim amount is approximately 2.8 billion won. Previously, the 14th Civil Division of the Suwon District Court also scheduled to deliver the verdict on the 3.96 billion won damages lawsuit filed by FromBIO against the two individuals on the 11th. With these two cases approaching first-instance judgments in succession, Kim Soo-hyun's legal disputes with advertisers have reached a significant juncture.

The lawsuit with cosmetics company A entered formal trial proceedings approximately seven months after the complaint was filed in April 2025. Following a total of five oral arguments, both sides have been disputing the termination of the advertising model contract and the resulting liability for damages.

After Kim Soo-hyun's private life controversy emerged in March 2025, company A announced its policy to terminate the advertising model contract through its official social media channels. At the time, the contract period was set to last until August 2025. Company A explained that it was difficult to proceed with an immediate termination initially because it was waiting for statements from Kim Soo-hyun and his agency. After confirming the agency's position, the company determined there were significant reasons making it difficult to fulfill the advertising contract and proceeded with the termination through legal counsel, stating the decision was made to protect brand value and consumer trust.

The lawsuit with FromBIO is also approaching a verdict after various complications. The trial was suspended for approximately eight months following the second oral argument held on October 22, 2025, to monitor the progress of related cases. Following the arrest of CEO Kim Se-ui on May 26, notice of the oral argument date was sent to both parties just two days later, and five oral arguments continued through October. After the long-stalled trial gained momentum again, the sentencing schedule has been finalized.

Kim Soo-hyun is reported to be facing damages claims totaling over 10 billion won from several companies, including FromBIO, CLASSYS, CUCKOO Electronics, and Trendmaker. The public image built through his work as an advertising model has led to contract terminations and legal disputes with companies following the private life controversy. As these rulings serve to determine liability for individual contracts, the results may vary depending on the specific contract terms and the circumstances of each termination.

Concurrently, the arrest and transfer of CEO Kim Se-ui, a central figure in the controversies surrounding Kim Soo-hyun, is drawing attention. Kim Se-ui was arrested and transferred on charges of defamation by spreading false information under the Information and Communications Network Act, violation of the Stalking Punishment Act, dissemination of filmed materials under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, as well as attempted coercion and intimidation. Police have been investigating allegations that Kim Se-ui spread claims through YouTube broadcasts from March to May 2025, suggesting that the relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron and pressure from Kim Soo-hyun's side regarding debt repayment were the direct causes of Kim Sae-ron's death.

Police believe the KakaoTalk conversations presented by Kim Se-ui in broadcasts and press conferences were manipulated, and have applied charges that he fabricated false information to defame Kim Soo-hyun by using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate the voice of the late Kim Sae-ron. However, these charges have been transferred to the prosecution following the police investigation and do not constitute a confirmed conviction.

During the pre-arrest interrogation on May 26, Kim Se-ui denied all charges. At the time, he claimed the arrest warrant was "nonsense that hasn't even organized basic facts." However, the court issued the arrest warrant citing concerns over destruction of evidence and flight risk, and subsequently rejected the request for a review of the legality of the arrest filed by Kim Se-ui.

GOLDMEDALIST, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, expressed gratitude to those who have waited for the legal proceedings and to the press. The agency stated, "We express our deep gratitude to those who have spoken up for a long time on behalf of Kim Soo-hyun, who was not a direct party to the case, while waiting for the legal procedures to unfold." They also expressed thanks to those who worked to uncover the truth and inform the public of the reality of the situation.

It has been reported that Kim Soo-hyun's side plans to increase the damages claim against CEO Kim Se-ui from the original 12 billion won to 30 billion won. This comes as civil lawsuits from advertisers are approaching sentencing and separate legal actions against the individual who spread the controversy are ongoing.

Ultimately, the verdict in the cosmetics company lawsuit scheduled for January next year is expected to serve as a major indicator for the direction of the advertising contract disputes surrounding Kim Soo-hyun. However, as each lawsuit with an advertiser is an independent case, one ruling does not replace the conclusion of the remaining disputes. Regardless of whether he resumes activities, public attention is focused on what judgment Kim Soo-hyun will receive in these long-running legal battles.

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