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| yna@yna.co.kr 2025-03-12 23:21:00
SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is at the center of controversy following allegations that he had a romantic relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. The broadcasting and retail industries are closely monitoring the situation.
Although Kim’s agency has strongly denied the allegations, the growing public backlash threatens to damage his reputation as an actor.
The controversy erupted on March 10 when YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (commonly known as Gaseyeon) claimed, citing statements from Kim Sae-ron’s family, that she had been in a six-year relationship with Kim Soo-hyun starting at the age of 15.
Kim’s agency, Gold Medalist, immediately refuted the claim as “blatantly false.” However, the following day, Gaseyeon released additional photos, including one allegedly showing Kim Soo-hyun kissing Kim Sae-ron on the cheek, fueling negative public sentiment.
Calls for Kim’s removal from the MBC variety show Good Day have intensified on the program’s online viewer board. Good Day is a music project featuring G-Dragon and various artists collaborating to create the "Song of the Year." The production team has yet to issue an official statement regarding Kim's status on the show.
His upcoming Disney+ original series, Knockoff, has also been affected by the controversy. Knockoff tells the story of a man whose life is upended by the 1997 Asian financial crisis and who later rises to power in the global counterfeit market. Industry insiders speculate that the controversy may delay or complicate the show's release, but a Disney+ representative declined to comment, stating, “The official release schedule for Knockoff has not been finalized.”
Meanwhile, companies that have endorsed Kim Soo-hyun as a brand ambassador are also facing a difficult situation.
Retail giant Homeplus, which reappointed Kim as its 28th-anniversary advertising model last month, is reportedly in a predicament. Homeplus had already initiated corporate rehabilitation proceedings earlier this month, and now the controversy surrounding Kim has added to its challenges. The company acknowledged Kim’s strong image as a reliable and energetic figure in their marketing but stated, “As of now, there are no changes to our contract with Kim Soo-hyun. We will make a decision after thoroughly reviewing the situation.”
CJ Foodville, which operates the bakery chain Tous Les Jours, is also reconsidering its contract with Kim. His current deal with the company is set to expire this month, and sources indicate that the company is considering not renewing it. CJ Foodville had previously brought Kim back as its brand ambassador last September after nearly a decade, as he had served as the face of Tous Les Jours from 2012 to 2015.
LG Household & Health Care has already taken action by removing old advertisements featuring Kim Soo-hyun. The company, which had Kim as the face of its beauty brand Beyond from 2012 to 2015, set the promotional videos on its official YouTube channel to private on March 12.
As the controversy continues to unfold, attention remains focused on how Kim Soo-hyun and the industries associated with him will respond.
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