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The actor Kim Soo-hyun and its agency Gold Medalist find themselves in court as part of a civil lawsuit against an advertiser. The case has been ongoing since February 2025, when the family of deceased actress Kim Sae-ron and the Garosero youtube channel made accusations against the actor. As a result, Kim Soo-hyun had to cease all professional activity while the situation was resolved. And it's the advertiser FromBioa company whose muse he was, is claiming damages from them, arguing that the actor failed in his "duty to maintain his image" after becoming embroiled in a media controversy.
Visit October 22the 2nd hearing was held before the Suwon civil court. The crux of the dispute? Whether or not Kim Soo-hyun has violated the morality clause in her advertising contract. The case is particularly sensitive, as it is indirectly linked to the actress's death. Kim Sae-ronthe actor's alleged former companion.
The loan contract, the source of conflict
On the plaintiff's side, FromBio claims that trust in Kim Soo-hyun collapsed after the events surrounding the management of a loan contract between the actor's agency and Kim Sae-ron. In their view, Kim Soo-hyun's refusal to respond to a request for deferred reimbursement had contributed to a series of misunderstandings that subsequently took on public proportions.
But Kim Soo-hyun's defense team categorically refutes this version. It maintains that the contract in question was signed by the agency and not by Kim Soo-hyun as an individualand that no specific contractual breach had been demonstrated. The lawyers also pointed out that the facts are still under criminal investigationIt is therefore premature to draw any conclusions.
Judgment pending criminal investigation
The court recognized the complexity of the case. The judges stated that it was difficult to establish a direct link between the loan and Kim Sae-ron's deathwhile stressing that the exact facts have not yet been clearly defined. Consequently, the court chose to suspend all decisions until the results of the criminal investigation are known.
The matter is all the more sensitive in that the 2 parties are also involved in a criminal dispute. Kim Soo-hyun has filed a complaint against the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute and Kim Sae-ron's family for defamation, false accusations and violation of the law on protection against sexual violence. In return, the actress's family accused Kim Soo-hyun ofviolation of child protection law.
These investigations are currently underway by the South Korean police, and no official conclusions have yet been reached.
A case that could redefine the limits of advertising contracts
This situation highlights the fragility of advertising contracts when a celebrity's reputation is at stake. Until the facts are clearly established by the courts, the civil courts will be unable to rule on the question of contractual liability.
In other words, the outcome of the civil trial will depend entirely on the conclusions of the criminal investigation.
In the meantime, actor Kim Soo-hyun, one of the most popular faces on the Korean small screen, is awaiting a clarification that could have a lasting influence on his career and future advertising collaborations.
