Kim Soo-hyun’s 700 Million Won Payment Notice to Kim Sae-ron Explained: Career Implications

On March 12, actress Kim Sae-ron found herself at the center of a controversy after being allegedly pressured by Kim Soo-hyun and his agency to repay a staggering 700 million won following her DUI incident. Reports indicate that Kim Soo-hyun, who is rumored to have dated her during her teenage years, and the agency, Gold Medalist, demanded this substantial amount just as she was gearing up for her career comeback.

Kim Soo-hyun’s Legal Maneuvers: A Surprise Amidst Success

During March 2023, while Kim Soo-hyun was enjoying a successful run with his drama “Queen of Tears, ” his former agency, Gold Medalist, issued a legal notice to Kim Sae-ron demanding the full repayment of 700 million won. This move puzzled many in the industry, especially given Kim Soo-hyun’s flourishing career in both acting and advertisements at that time.

In a series of text messages released by Kim Sae-ron’s family, it was revealed that she had implored Kim Soo-hyun for compassion, explaining that it was unrealistic for her to repay such an amount all at once. Desperate for communication, she even sought help to find his contact details but ultimately resorted to sharing and later deleting a photograph of them together on her social media, hoping to attract his attention.

Gold Medalist later characterized the legal notice as merely procedural, claiming that Kim Sae-ron was informed of this development only later. Nevertheless, sources have confirmed that she felt intense pressure, particularly since she couldn’t reach out to either Kim Soo-hyun or his agency until after her social media post.

Understanding the 700 Million Won Demand

The 700 million won cited in the legal notice was said to be a settlement amount negotiated between Kim Sae-ron and Studio N, the company behind the Netflix series “Bloodhounds, ” in which she was involved prior to her DUI arrest. Initially seeking damages of 7 billion won, the production company allegedly agreed to a reduced figure after Kim Sae-ron personally appealed for leniency, resulting in a settlement of 700 million won.

As a direct consequence of her DUI, “Bloodhounds” required script alterations and an extensive two-month reshoot, leading to losses exceeding 1 billion won. Considering the damage incurred to the series’ reputation, industry insiders noted that the initial 7 billion won claim was not entirely unreasonable, making the 700 million won settlement seem like a middle ground.

In addition, Kim Sae-ron reportedly sold her car and tapped into her savings to cover penalties for her advertisement contracts.Despite her financial struggles, Gold Medalist paid the 700 million won settlement on her behalf given her inability to do so at that time.

Was Kim Soo-hyun Aware of the Legal Action?

An industry insider shared insights suggesting that while Kim Sae-ron might have experienced feelings of betrayal when Gold Medalist chose not to renew her contract, tensions weren’t high between her and Kim Soo-hyun until the legal notice was issued. There are questions surrounding whether Kim Soo-hyun was fully informed of the developments, especially as those in his circle were already aware of the situation.

At the same time, Gold Medalist firmly refuted claims regarding an alleged past relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor, dismissing allegations that they mishandled her DUI situation. The agency further announced plans to take legal action against the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute for their initial reports on the matter.

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