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South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun. Photo from Kim’s agency’s Instagram |
According to The Korea Times, Kim sold his unit at the upscale Galleria Foret in Seongsu-dong on July 3, after buying it in 2014. The apartment, with a net floor area of 170.98 square meters and a total area of 232.59 square meters, was reportedly sold shortly after Kim was hit with a 7.3 billion won damages lawsuit from an advertiser. The timing has sparked speculation that the sale could be linked to financial concerns surrounding the lawsuit.
In addition to this lawsuit, Kim is facing several other legal challenges. A medical device company that had hired him as a commercial model has placed a provisional seizure of 3 billion won on one of his Galleria Foret units. Another company has also requested a separate provisional seizure of 100 million won on the same property.
Responding to the speculation, Kim’s legal representative Bang Sung Hoon stated that the lawsuits are based on false claims regarding Kim’s alleged involvement in a romantic relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron, who was said to be underage at the time. These accusations were denied by Kim’s agency Gold Medalist, which asserted that the relationship occurred between mid-2019 and late 2020, when Kim Sae Ron was an adult. They also emphasized that these allegations were falsely made and spread by the YoTube channel Garo Sero Institute.
The controversy first emerged on March 10, when Garo Sero Institute aired an interview with a woman claiming to be Kim Sae Ron’s aunt. The woman alleged that Kim and Kim Sae Ron had been in a relationship since she was 15, though this claim was later disputed.
Following the allegations, Kim Sae Ron’s family accused Kim of pressuring the actress to repay 700 million won, money allegedly provided by Kim and his agency to help Sae Ron recover from a 2022 DUI incident that had damaged her career. Kim has denied these accusations.
At 37, Kim is a top star in South Korea, widely known for his roles in popular dramas like “Dream High,” “Moon Embracing the Sun,” “My Love from the Star,” “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” and “Queen of Tears.”
Kim Sae Ron gained international recognition with her role in “A Brand New Life” and was once the youngest South Korean actress to attend the Cannes Film Festival. Despite her promising career, her acting prospects had diminished following the 2022 DUI incident.
She passed away at the age of 24 on Feb. 16, 2024, with authorities ruling out foul play. Her funeral was held on Feb. 19.
