Could Kim Soo-hyun Be Charged as a Pedophile? Legal Experts Said It’s Difficult
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Legal Experts’ Comments on Kim Soo-hyun’s Case
Recently, legal experts point out that it will be hard to seek legal persecution on Kim Soo-hyun regarding allegations of him dating Kim Sae-ron since the late actress was a minor. In particular, lawyer Kang Jin-seok from ENT Law Firm stated, “Although there may be ethical criticism, the facts have not been fully clarified. Dating a minor cannot immediately be considered a criminal act. Therefore, demanding contract compensation or advertisement cancellations from Kim Soo-hyun would be very difficult.”
He added, “Even if brands suffer reputational damage, ethical concerns and legal grounds are two different matters. As a result, the chances of companies winning a lawsuit are very low.”
Meanwhile, lawyer Lee Yong-hae, the director of YH&CO Law Firm, commented, “The key issue lies in the compensation clause within the contract. If the clause only requires compensation in the case of a criminal conviction, then dating a minor does not constitute a crime under the law, and Kim Soo-hyun would not be held liable.”
He further analyzed that if there was sexual activity, Kim Soo Hyun could potentially be accused of a crime involving a minor under Korean law. However, under current Korean law, a “minor” is defined as under 16 years old, but before 2020, this age was set at 13 years old. Since the law applies based on the time of the incident, if Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron started dating before 2020, even if sexual activity occurred, the actor would not face criminal charges.
While some contracts may include a “social controversy” clause, lawyer Kim noted, “The term ‘social controversy’ is very vague. If the two were in a consensual relationship, this may not be considered a scandal. Therefore, from a legal standpoint, there are still many points open to debate.”
Finally, he concluded, “Currently, very little verified information has been publicly disclosed, and there has been no official conclusion. Therefore, it is necessary to continue monitoring the situation.”
Kim Soo-hyun Accused of Pedophilia
On March 10, the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute unexpectedly revealed that Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun had been dating for 6 years. This relationship allegedly began in 2015, when Kim Sae-ron was only 15 years old. Very quickly, Kim Soo-hyun denied these claims and announced that he would sue Garo Sero Institute.
According to the latest developments on the night of March 10, Korean media reported that this YouTube channel remained unfazed and challenged Kim Soo-hyun‘s threat of legal action with a lengthy post. Garo Sero Institute even dropped a shocking revelation: Kim Soo-hyun would be reported for the crime of having relations with a minor the following day. This information left netizens stunned and in disbelief.
The original post by Garo Sero Institute stated:
“Kim Soo-hyun doesn’t seem to know who Kim Sae-eui of Garo Sero Institute is. Legal action? Previously, the global group BTS also said they would take ‘legal action’ against Garo Sero Institute. What was the result? They all enlisted in the military. And Kim Soo-hyun, the Hallyu star famous in China? Our Garo Sero Institute is no ordinary place. We broadcast based on documents and direct interviews with actress Kim Sae-ron’s family. Why don’t you try threatening legal action against her family? By the way, the comments on the article represent public opinion, Soo-hyun.”
They continued: “Perhaps tomorrow… a complaint about sexual relations with a minor will be filed in court. Did you really date an 8th-grade student? No way, you couldn’t have had sexual relations with a minor, right? It seems… someone will file a complaint tomorrow. If you secretly coaxed or threatened her family, you know the consequences, right? Oh, and Wonbin even attended Kim Sae-ron’s funeral. Kim Soo-hyun, why didn’t you go? As a person, you should uphold basic morals.”
In Korea, the law strictly regulates matters related to relationships with minors. According to Article 305 of the Korean Criminal Act, engaging in sexual relations with a minor under 16 years old (by international standards) or 13 years old (by domestic standards) can be considered statutory rape, even if the minor consents. Additionally, the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sex Offenses stipulates that anyone who commits sexual harassment or engages in sexual activity with a minor under 19 years old may face severe penalties, especially in cases involving abuse of power, coercion, or exploitation of the victim’s vulnerability.
If the allegations against Kim Soo-hyun are substantiated and an official complaint is filed, he could face minimum to 5 years in prison, depending on the severity of the case (Article 7). Furthermore, if convicted, he could be registered as a sex offender, which would significantly impact his career and personal life.
Netizen’s Perspectives
Netizens believe that if the allegations rely solely on photos depicting intimacy, there is not enough evidence to conclude that Kim Soo-hyun is guilty.
In Garo Sero’s latest video, Kim Sae-ron’s family did not make overly strict demands but simply wished for Kim Soo-hyun to issue a public apology to Kim Sae-ron and her family to restore fairness.
Media experts argue that this is no longer a rumor that can be easily dismissed. The fact that Kim Sae-ron’s family has officially spoken out has escalated the situation to a more serious level.
If this matter is not handled transparently and decisively, Kim Soo-hyun’s career could suffer significant damage. Entertainment industry experts warn that once a celebrity’s reputation is tainted by unresolved allegations, the consequences can be long-lasting and extremely difficult to recover from.