Legal Expert Says Kim Soo-hyun Unlikely to Pay 5.8 Billion KRW Ad Penalty Amid Kim Sae-ron Scandal

In a May 2 video posted to YouTube channel Entertainment President Lee Jin-ho, titled “Is Kim Soo-hyun Finished…? Sued for ₩5.8 Billion KRW by Advertisers—Who Will Pay?”, Kim Kyung-nam, a lawyer from law firm For You, dissected the situation.

The lawsuit stems from allegations that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. Attorney Kim explained that although the claims have stirred ethical debates, they likely do not meet the legal threshold for contract violation or financial liability.

“Even if the relationship occurred, it’s important to note that under Korean law at the time, only sexual relations with minors under 13 were criminalized,” he said.

“It’s not enough to say there was public controversy,” Kim stressed. “You have to demonstrate that the advertising campaign was negatively affected in a measurable way and that Kim Soo-hyun acted with intent or negligence. The burden of proof lies with the advertisers.”

He also highlighted the timing: “If the relationship began after both were adults in 2019 and the scandal erupted much later, then the real issue lies with those spreading unverified claims, not Kim Soo-hyun himself.”

Amid speculation that Kim Sae-ron’s family or Garo Sero Research Institute head Kim Se-ui may have disseminated the allegations, Kim Kyung-nam noted that if the dating claims are proven false or exaggerated, those parties could face defamation or liability themselves.

The attorney concluded by reaffirming his legal opinion: “Unless there is clear, court-admissible evidence that Kim Soo-hyun knowingly engaged in a relationship that violated legal or contractual standards, he is unlikely to be forced to pay the ₩5.8 billion KRW in damages.”

As the public waits for more clarity, Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team has remained silent, and the burden of proof now shifts to the advertisers and those behind the original allegations.