Kim Soo-hyun

In March 2025, Disney+ postponed the release of Knock-Off, a high-budget series starring Kim, because of the controversy. In May 2026, following the arrest of the YouTuber accused of disseminating false and fabricated information, Disney+ nevertheless indicated that the series remained on hold.

State of the evidence

Documented

Kim Sae-ron's family turned the public allegations into a criminal complaint, notably alleging a relationship with a minor in breach of child protection legislation.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Several advertisers sought refunds and damages after suspending campaigns with Kim. A medical device manufacturer obtained a provisional attachment over a share of an apartment at Galleria Foret for a claim of approximately 3 billion won; other companies brought actions totalling several billion won.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Accused

A court ordered the arrest of Kim Se-ui, operator of HoverLab/Garo Sero, during the investigation into allegations circulated against Kim. Authorities accuse him, among other things, of spreading false information and using an AI-manipulated recording to support claims of a sexual relationship when Kim Sae-ron was in middle school.

Attribution

Protagonist is the victim

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim

The Seoul Eastern District Court dismissed Mido's claim for repayment of approximately 570 million won in advertising fees. As Mido did not appeal before the 10 September 2026 deadline, the judgment became final. This was the first concluded decision among the multiple advertising disputes arising from the 2025 crisis.

State of the evidence

Documented

Kim Sae-ron briefly published a photograph showing her cheek to cheek with Kim Soo-hyun in March 2024. His agency then stated that relationship rumours were untrue and that the photograph dated from when they shared an agency. In March 2025, in response to new allegations, Gold Medalist acknowledged that they had been in a relationship, which it dated from summer 2019 to autumn 2020, after Kim Sae-ron had reached adulthood.

Attribution

Personally implicated

HoverLab and Kim Sae-ron's family alleged that Kim Soo-hyun had begun a relationship with her when she was approximately 15. Kim and his agency denied that chronology, acknowledging only a relationship from 2019 when she was an adult. Kim held a press conference on 31 March 2025 to personally deny having dated a minor.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Kim Sae-ron's family and HoverLab alleged that a formal demand from Gold Medalist concerning approximately 700 million won in debt following her drink-driving accident had placed her under pressure and that she had unsuccessfully asked Kim Soo-hyun for help.

At the height of the allegations, several brands terminated or suspended their relationships with Kim. Reuters notably documented decisions by Prada and cosmetics brand Dinto, alongside other advertisers.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

7-Eleven Taiwan cancelled the fan meeting Kim was scheduled to hold at the Kaohsiung festival. It would have been his first public appearance since the allegations emerged.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The public discovered that Kim had a half-sister, Kim Ju-na, although he was widely perceived as an only child. The revelation as she was launching her career prompted allegations that her associates were using Kim's name to promote her.

Kim and Jun Ji-hyun were criticised in Korea for signing with a Chinese bottled-water brand which referred to its source as Changbai Mountain rather than Baekdu Mountain, a name critics associated with the historical Chinese–Korean dispute. Both initially sought to terminate their contracts.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated