According to Allkpop, actor Kim Soo Hyun is currently the focus of many legal disputes with companies that have advertising contracts with him.
The lawsuits were filed after the love scandal between Kim Soo Hyun and the late actor Kim Sae Ron broke out, with Kim Soo Hyun being asked to pay more than 7.3 billion won so far.
The controversy broke out when Kim Sae Ron's family and YouTube channel Garosero accused Kim Soo Hyun of dating Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor.
Although Kim Soo Hyun denied it, the allegations and legal battles still caused significant damage to his image. Therefore, the actor has temporarily stopped all entertainment activities.
Kim Soo Hyun has previously signed advertising modeling contracts for 16 brands. After the scandal, some companies have stopped advertising campaigns or sued Kim Soo Hyun.
The core of these disputes lies in the " ethical clause" often included in the contract. This clause prohibits celebrities from engaging in behavior that can discredit the brand.
Many companies are now seeking damages under the provision, citing financial and reputational losses caused by Kim Soo Hyun's alleged wrongdoings.
However, legal experts say there is still controversy over whether Kim Soo Hyun's noise occurred before signing the contract, which could be considered a violation.
On June 13, it was reported that Cuckoo Holdings, a famous kitchen appliance brand, filed a lawsuit to claim damages against Kim Soo Hyun and his management company Gold Medalist.
The lawsuit involves subsidiaries such as Cuckoo Electronics, Cuckoo Homesys and Malaysia-based sister company, Cuckoo International Berhad.
The complaints from Cuckoo Holdings and its affiliated companies amount to about 2.83 billion won.
Health supplement food company From bio filed a lawsuit against Kim Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist in May, demanding 3.96 billion won in damages.
The company signed a contract with the actor in October 2024 after the resounding success of the drama Queen of Tears and believes that his image is suitable for their brand as they expand to the international market.
After the scandal broke out in March this year, From bio suspended all advertising campaigns featuring Kim Soo Hyun and filed a lawsuit on May 16. The case is being handled by the Suwon District Court, Civil Sub-area 14.
Trendmaker, the company that runs the Dinto vegan cosmetics brand, signed a contract with Kim Soo Hyun in August 2024 to enhance the luxurious image of the brand.
The company has reported rapid growth in both South Korea and Japan, and is even pursuing a large investment round of up to 20 billion won in early 2025. However, the scandal disrupted the company's trajectory.
On March 12, Trendmaker publicly announced the termination of Kim Soo Hyun's contract. By April 25, the company had filed a lawsuit demanding 501 million won in damages. The lawsuit has been transferred to the Seoul Central District Court, Civil Sub-area 22.
Allkpop statistics show that the total amount of damages requested for Kim Soo Hyun and his management company Gold Medalist to date is 7.34 billion won.
While legal proceedings are still ongoing and other companies are monitoring the situation, the long-term impact of love scandals on Kim Soo Hyun's career remains uncertain.
