The legal battle between top actor Kim Soo-hyun and the family of the late Kim Sae-ron has escalated, with experts warning that the family may face serious criminal charges and financial liability, including damages amounting to 200 billion KRW (approx. 138 million USD), even if Kim is found to have done nothing illegal.
Civil and Criminal Lawsuits Filed
On May 31, Kim Soo-hyun and his legal team, led by attorney Kim Jong-bok of LKB & Partners, held a press conference at Seoul’s Stanford Hotel, announcing the latest round of legal action. According to Kim’s lawyer, they have filed both criminal complaints and civil lawsuits against Kim Sae-ron’s family and the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute (Garo Sero).
The legal team filed a criminal complaint for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, and a separate civil lawsuit seeking 11 billion KRW (approx. 7.6 million KRW) in damages was submitted to the Seoul Central District Court.
This follows an earlier case filed on May 10, where Kim’s side accused the same parties of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, alleging that they had distributed 𝓈ℯ𝓍ually humiliating images of the actor. According to the law, publishing false or invasive 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual images can result in up to 7 years in prison or 50 million KRW (approx. 35,000 USD) in fines.
“Even If Kim Was Morally Wrong, the Family’s Actions Were Criminal”
Legal experts maintain that Kim Soo-hyun cannot be prosecuted under current law for allegedly dating Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. At the time of their rumored relationship in 2015, the legal age threshold for statutory rape in Korea was 13, meaning the relationship, while morally questionable, was not illegal. The Youth Sexual Protection Act, which criminalizes 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual conversations between adults and minors under 16, was enacted in 2021 and does not apply retroactively.
However, the same cannot be said for the actions of the bereaved family. Attorney Lee Eun-yi, an expert in 𝓈ℯ𝓍 crime litigation, stated,_ “Even if Kim’s actions are up for moral debate, releasing nude or misleading photos is undeniably criminal.”_
She elaborated on a specific image that was circulated online, reportedly edited to imply nudity, “If he was actually wearing shorts and the image was manipulated, it’s defamation. If the photo was real, it’s illegal distribution of 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual content. Either way, it’s a crime.”
The situation escalates further as Kim Sae-ron’s family and Garo Sero claim to possess additional, more explicit images of Kim Soo-hyun. Attorney No Jong-eon warned, “If such images exist and they’re being used to pressure Kim, this could be considered criminal intimidation.”
Under Korean law, threatening someone with 𝓈ℯ𝓍ually explicit content carries a minimum prison sentence of one year. If these photos do not exist, the family and Garo Sero could still be prosecuted for false accusations and defamation.
Contract Losses Could Be Pinned on the Family
Beyond criminal liabilities, Kim Soo-hyun is seeking compensation for financial damages. Attorney No explained that even if Kim and Sae-ron were romantically involved, the absence of illegal conduct makes it unlikely that Kim will face industry penalties.
“Kim’s ad contracts were canceled due to reputational damage from this case. If he’s cleared of wrongdoing, the family could be liable for the penalties, which are estimated to range from 20 to 200 billion KRW.”
In civil court, joint tort liability means the family may share this massive financial burden with Garo Sero. No concluded, “The family’s actions, from distributing images to making baseless allegations, clearly crossed the legal line.”
With both criminal and civil lawsuits now in motion, the situation could have serious ramifications for Kim Sae-ron’s family and Garo Sero. If the courts find in favor of Kim Soo-hyun, the financial and legal consequences could be devastating for those who accused him.
