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In a significant legal victory for actor Kim Soo-hyun, a Seoul court has ruled in favor of his agency, Gold Medalist, in a lawsuit filed by Swiss watch brand Mido. The brand had sought the return of over 570 million won in contract fees, claiming that the actor’s value had been irreparably damaged by the controversies surrounding him. However, the 13th Civil Division of the Seoul Eastern District Court rejected Mido’s claim, delivering a decisive win for the actor and his representation. The case marks the first formal court ruling in the ongoing legal disputes between Kim Soo-hyun and advertisers who cut ties with him following the allegations that emerged against him, and it is expected to serve as a crucial stepping stone for his potential return to the public eye.
The legal battle traces back to 2020, when Mido first signed Kim Soo-hyun as the face of their brand, renewing the contract annually to maintain a long-standing partnership. In November 2024, the company paid an additional 900 million won to extend the agreement for another year. However, the actor’s public image came under fire shortly thereafter due to a scandal involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron, prompting Mido to terminate the contract. The brand then filed a lawsuit demanding the return of the fees paid for the remaining contract period, arguing that the actor’s tarnished reputation had directly caused financial losses and breached the terms of their agreement.
Gold Medalist defended the actor vigorously, arguing that the contract was terminated without any fault on the actor’s part. The agency contended that the controversy was not the result of Kim Soo-hyun’s actions, but rather stemmed from false information fabricated and circulated by third parties. The court agreed with this reasoning, determining that the grounds for contract termination were not valid and that Mido’s request for the return of fees was unjustified. The ruling effectively vindicates the actor, reinforcing the position that he was not responsible for the circumstances that led to the brand’s decision to pull out of the agreement.
Beyond the Mido case, Kim Soo-hyun is entangled in multiple other legal disputes with advertisers, including companies such as Eider, Prombio, Classis, and Kukoo Electronics. These brands have collectively claimed damages and fee returns totaling over 10 billion won. Interestingly, in one of these related cases, Eider initially sought a much larger sum but later reduced its claim to approximately 400 million won, focusing solely on the return of remaining model fees. The court has, however, expressed skepticism about whether this reduced claim can be legally justified, noting that the original basis for the damages claim was difficult to sustain.
The controversy that triggered these legal battles stems from allegations made by the late actress Kim Sae-ron’s family. Beginning in March of last year, YouTube broadcasts and media appearances by Kim Se-won, the head of the investigative outlet Hovermint, claimed that Kim Soo-hyun had dated Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor and bore responsibility for her tragic death. A press conference, held on behalf of the bereaved family, presented alleged voice recordings and KakaoTalk messages to support these accusations. However, investigative authorities later determined that the voice recording was synthesized using generative AI technology, and the purported KakaoTalk conversations were also found to have been manipulated, dealing a severe blow to the credibility of the claims.
Following the arrest of Kim Se-won on charges including defamation, threats, and the distribution of manipulated media, Gold Medalist expressed relief and appreciation. The agency issued a statement thanking those who had spoken out in support of Kim Soo-hyun throughout the ordeal, while emphasizing that the actor himself was not directly involved in the legal proceedings but had been deeply affected by the allegations. Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun has begun to tentatively re-emerge in public life, participating in a photoshoot for the Philippine clothing brand Bench and attending the 37th-anniversary celebration of RCTI in Jakarta. These appearances suggest that, with the court ruling in his favor and the charges against his accuser moving forward, the actor may be slowly rebuilding his career and public image.