Kim Soo-hyun’s fans protest $2.16 million asset seizure, threaten boycott of brand
Kim Soo-hyun / Xportsnews
Fans of actor Kim Soo-hyun have issued a strong warning to a medical device brand that recently filed for a court-ordered asset seizure against the star, denouncing the company’s actions as unfair and unethical.
On June 11, Kim Soo-hyun’s Korean and global fan union released a statement criticizing the brand — referred to only as Company A — for requesting a real estate provisional seizure against the actor. “We confirmed that in the process of filing the seizure, Kim Soo-hyun’s personal information was exposed to the public,” the fan group said. “This is a clear case of secondary harm against a victim of false allegations, as well as a serious invasion of privacy.”
The controversy centers on a 3 billion won ($2.16 million) provisional seizure request granted by the Seoul Eastern District Court last month, allowing the seizure of one of Kim’s luxury apartments at Galleria Foret in Seoul’s Seongdong District. The medical brand had reportedly terminated its endorsement contract with Kim and demanded compensation after his name was linked to a controversy involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron.
Fans expressed outrage over what they called an opportunistic and unjustified legal action. “It is extremely unreasonable and irrational for a brand that once benefited financially from Kim Soo-hyun’s image to file for asset seizure against him, especially when he is the innocent party,” they said.
They also questioned the brand’s priorities: “If contract violation or reputational damage is at issue, responsibility should be directed at those who spread the false claims that disrupted the actor’s career. It is ethically indefensible for a company to target the victim with legal action.”
The fan union called on the brand to issue a clear explanation and handle the matter responsibly, warning that failure to do so could lead to a widespread boycott. “As consumers who became aware of your brand through Kim Soo-hyun, we hope this situation does not escalate into a boycott of all your products,” they said.
According to earlier reports, the brand had selected Kim as a model but filed for asset seizure after failing to receive damages from the terminated contract. Kim owns three luxury apartments at Galleria Foret. He purchased a 217-square-meter unit for 4.02 billion won in October 2013, followed by a 170-square-meter unit for 3.02 billion won in October 2014. In January 2024, he acquired a 217-square-meter penthouse for 8.8 billion won. The combined market value of the three properties is estimated at around 30 billion won.
On June 12, Kim’s legal representative, LKB & Partners, confirmed the court-approved provisional seizure but refuted all claims made by Garo Sero Institute, a YouTube channel that had alleged wrongdoing by the actor. “The allegations raised by Garo Sero are completely false,” the law firm said. “It is clear that Kim Soo-hyun is a victim of a crime, and it is deeply regrettable that he is now facing secondary harm.”
This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.