Kim Soo-hyun Delays Legal Fee Payment in 12 Billion KRW Lawsuit, Financial Strain Rumors Emerge
Actor Kim Soo-hyun is facing growing scrutiny after reportedly failing to pay legal fees tied to his ongoing damages lawsuit against the family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron and YouTuber Kim Se-ui, head of the controversial Garo Sero Research Institute.
Legal Hurdles
On April 2, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 14 issued a supplemental order to Kim’s legal team, requesting the payment of additional court-related charges. This procedural move, triggered by insufficient filing fees, must be resolved before the lawsuit, valued at 12 billion KRW (approx. 8.5 million USD), can proceed.
In South Korea, these legal charges, called injidae, scale with the amount claimed, and additional songdallyo fees cover official document service. Together, combined court and service fees are estimated at 38 million KRW (approx. 26,800 USD).
On April 16, Kim’s side requested an extension to meet the payment deadline, an action that, while within procedural norms, has prompted public speculation about possible financial strain.
Financial Fallout and Industry Ramifications
According to an M&A expert familiar with internal matters at Gold Medalist, Kim’s agency, the company’s financial reserves are nearly depleted, with even janitorial and freelance contracts paused due to budget constraints.
Adding to the pressure, all of Kim Soo-hyun’s 20+ commercial endorsements have reportedly been suspended. The resulting penalty fees are projected to total more than 22 billion KRW (approx. $15.5 million USD).
The situation is further complicated by Kim’s upcoming Disney+ series “Knock-Off”, which has already faced indefinite postponement. If the show is canceled entirely, industry insiders warn that the contract penalties could amount to hundreds of billions of KRW.
As is standard practice, management agencies typically absorb initial penalties, seeking later reimbursement from the artist. However, with Gold Medalist operating essentially as a one-artist company built around Kim, skepticism is rising over its ability to weather such a financial storm, even with an estimated annual revenue of 10 billion KRW (approx. $7.1 million USD).
If the lawsuit fees are not paid by the court’s extended deadline, the case could be dismissed, potentially nullifying Kim’s entire legal claim. As fans await clarification, the issue raises deeper concerns not only about Kim Soo-hyun’s ongoing legal battles, but also about the sustainability of star-driven agencies in crisis.