Final film of late actor Kim Sae-ron embroiled in legal battle

Late actor Kim Sae-ron’s final film has become entangled in a legal dispute involving contract violations involving financial issues between the production and distribution companies.

On Wednesday, Sungwon Pharmaceutical, the production company of the 2025 musical film “Guitar Man,” said it filed a criminal complaint against the movie’s distributor, CMnix Films. The production company submitted the complaint to the Seoul Seocho Police Station on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust.

They said the distributor allegedly engaged in unauthorized profit-making activities. The distributor reportedly filed criminal lawsuits against internet users who leaked the film online and collected settlement money without informing the copyright holder, which is the production company. Sungwon Pharmaceutical said these legal actions were taken without their prior consent and the specific details regarding the amount of money collected have not been shared.

They added that there are also concerns about the 100 million won ($67,541) marketing budget paid in cash by the production company. While the distributor promised wide promotion through famous YouTubers and social media, the only actual event was a single press screening, according to the production company.

The musical drama was released on May 30, 2025, and gained attention for being the actor's final project before her death. Kim was a former child star who gained fame for her roles in hit dramas and films, such as the 2010 movie “The Man from Nowhere.”

Her career was previously marked by both high praise and public scrutiny. She was once at the center of a major social media stir after posting and then quickly deleting a photo with top actor Kim Soo-hyun which led to widespread dating rumors and professional controversy.

Following her death in February of last year, "Guitar Man" was released as her final project. It tells the story of a genius guitarist seeking hope through music.

The production company expressed regret over the situation and said it tried to resolve the issue by visiting the distributor last November to request a contract termination. However, the distributor reportedly refused to talk and demanded a promise that no legal action would be taken against it.