Actor Kim Soo-hyun is intensifying his legal efforts to clear his name amid growing allegations involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron, with the case now moving to South Korea's National Forensic Service (NFS) for evidence authentication.
The Seoul Eastern District Court approved a provisional seizure of Kim's real estate assets, valued at approximately KRW 3 billion ($2.2 million), on May 20.
The request was filed by CLASSYS Inc., a medical aesthetics company that had previously signed Kim as the brand ambassador for Volnewmer.
The move followed rumors alleging that Kim had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Kim Sae-ron during her minor years.
Kim's attorney, Bang Sung-hoon of LKB & Partners, stated that the actor is the target of a "malicious defamation campaign" orchestrated by the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute.
"It's true that provisional seizure was granted," Bang said in a statement.
"But Kim Soo-hyun is the victim of criminal slander by Garo Sero Institute. Their false claims that Kim dated and exploited the underage Kim Sae-ron led to these consequences. The blame lies with the instigators, not Kim."
In an effort to discredit the claims, Kim's legal team has requested that the NFS conduct a forensic analysis of audio recordings, KakaoTalk messages, and images that allegedly substantiate the relationship.
Kim maintains that his romantic involvement with Kim Sae-ron began in 2019, after she reached the legal age of adulthood in South Korea, and ended in 2020.
However, the YouTube channel and Kim Sae-ron's family assert that the relationship began in late 2015 and lasted until mid-2021.
Three additional companies have since filed lawsuits against Kim, totaling KRW 3.3 billion.
Counter, Kim has been sued for defamation and invasion of privacy for 11 billion won in a countersuit filed against the Garo Sero Institute and Kim Sae-ron's family.
Criminal complaints have also been filed under South Korea's sexual violence laws and the Information and Communications Network Act against Garo Sero's representative, Kim Se-ui, whose personal bank accounts and properties are reportedly subject to seizure orders.
Kim Sae-ron's family, meanwhile, has filed a lawsuit against the actor for violating the Child Welfare Act, reaching the committee level, and for obstruction of business, claiming they believe Kim submitted false reports to the authorities.
The ongoing dispute has sparked mixed reactions online, with Kim's fans launching boycotts of former brand partners, such as CLASSYS, while others question the legitimacy of his claims to victimhood.
This high-stakes legal drama now turns to the forensic review to provide clarity in a case defined by conflicting timelines and manipulated digital evidence.
Each side is waiting for the NFS's findings, which could be defined in the course of the ongoing legal and sporting war.
