Kim Soo Hyun's lawsuit against Kim Sae Ron's family may collapse

Actor Kim Soo Hyun is yet to pay the necessary legal fees for his ongoing KRW 12 billion (approx. USD 8.5 million) lawsuit against the late actress Kim Sae Ron's family and YouTuber Kim Se Ui, who runs the controversial Garosero Research Institute that has been behind his dating scandal exposé.

Kim Soo Hyun's legal trouble mounts

The Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 14 has asked Kim Soo Hyun's legal team to pay additional court fees, totaling around 38 million KRW (USD 26,800), for his 12 billion KRW (USD 8.5 million) lawsuit against the late actress Kim Sae Ron's family and YouTuber Kim Se Ui to proceed.

These fees include injidae, or filing fees, which scale with the claim amount, and songdallyo, or document delivery fees, covering official document service.

Is Kim Soo Hyun struggling financially?

After Kim Soo Hyun's team requested an extension to meet the payment deadline, it sparked speculation that he may be facing financial difficulties. This comes after reports revealed his agency, Gold Medalist, might be heading towards bankruptcy.

K-media outlet Nate, citing industry sources, claimed that Kim Soo Hyun’s press conference in late March to address Kim Sae Ron’s allegation was a planned PR move to rescue the agency, which he co-owns with his cousin, from falling off its already broken ivory tower and potential bankruptcy.

Kim Soo Hyun at his press conference| Credit: X

Additionally, a Kbizoom report revealed that an M&A insider familiar with internal affairs at Gold Medalist claims the company’s finances are stretched thin. Operations have reportedly slowed down to the point where even janitorial services and freelance contracts have been paused due to budget issues.

Brands cut ties with Kim Soo Hyun

Adding to the company's financial strains, over 20 brands have suspended their contracts with the Queen of Tears actor, with potential penalty fees stacking up to over KRW 22 billion (approx. USD 15.5 million).

Kim’s upcoming Disney+ drama Knock-Off has already been postponed indefinitely. If the project is cancelled entirely, insiders warn the penalties could reach hundreds of billions of KRW.

Typically, agencies cover these initial penalties and later recover them from the artist. But Gold Medalist, being a new player in the market, having been founded in 2019, is heavily centred around Kim Soo Hyun. If the actor's projects fail, the company may not have the capacity to handle such a financial hit, especially with annual revenue reportedly around KRW 10 billion (approx. USD 7.1 million).

Will Kim Soo Hyun's lawsuit against Kim Sae Ron's family get dismissed?

If the legal fees aren’t paid by the court’s extended deadline, Kim Soo Hyun's lawsuit against Kim Sae Ron's family and Garosero may be dismissed, essentially wiping out the actor's damages claim. With no official statement from Kim or his agency yet, fans are left waiting for answers.

For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.