The CEO of Gold Medalist, the agency representing top actor Kim Soo-hyun, has resigned amidst the actor’s ongoing legal disputes and significant career setbacks. The agency confirmed that Ahn Sung-soo stepped down two months ago, and his position has been filled by a new chief executive from the financial sector. This leadership change occurs as Kim Soo-hyun navigates a complex legal battle with the family of his late former colleague, Kim Sae-ron, and faces massive financial lawsuits from former sponsors.
A Leadership Reshuffle
Gold Medalist, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, announced a change in its leadership on November 28. The company stated that former CEO Ahn Sung-soo left his position around the middle of September. His departure marks the second CEO exit from the agency within a year.
A representative for Gold Medalist explained the move was made to strengthen the company’s management capabilities. The vacancy has been filled by an executive with a background in the financial industry, specifically from the conglomerate Hanwha. Ahn Sung-soo had served for approximately nine months and was a visible figure beside Kim Soo-hyun during the actor’s emotional press conference in March addressing the initial allegations.
The Core Legal Dispute
The leadership transition comes while Kim Soo-hyun is entangled in a serious legal and public relations crisis stemming from his association with the late actress Kim Sae-ron. The core of the dispute involves conflicting claims about the nature and timeline of their relationship.
Kim Sae-ron’s family alleges that the two actors were in a six-year romantic relationship that began in 2015, when Kim Sae-ron was 15 years old, which would make her a minor at the time. To support their claim, the family has released what they describe as evidence, including handwritten notes, KakaoTalk messages, and audio recordings. One such memo allegedly from Kim Sae-ron referred to Kim Soo-hyun as her “first and last love.”
Kim Soo-hyun has firmly denied these specific allegations. Through his legal representative, he admitted to a past relationship but stated it occurred only from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, after Kim Sae-ron had reached adulthood. His legal team has dismissed the evidence presented by the family, stating the materials are “unrelated to Kim Soo-hyun,” were “fabricated,” or “lack evidentiary value.”
The legal conflict has escalated significantly. Kim Soo-hyun’s side has filed a defamation and damages lawsuit against Kim Sae-ron’s family and a related YouTube channel, seeking 12 billion Korean Won (approximately $10.3 million). In response, the bereaved family has filed a counter-complaint against Kim Soo-hyun for alleged violations of the Child Welfare Act.
Mounting Financial and Professional Fallout
The controversy has had severe consequences for Kim Soo-hyun’s career and finances, extending far beyond the dispute with Kim Sae-ron’s family.
Several major companies that had signed advertising contracts with the actor have terminated their partnerships and filed lawsuits seeking compensation for damages. The total value of these lawsuits has now exceeded 10 billion Korean Won. One cosmetics brand, referred to as Company A, increased its damage claim from 500 million won to 2.86 billion won, arguing that Kim Soo-hyun’s alleged actions breached the “dignity clause” in their contract and severely damaged their brand image.
Kim Soo-hyun’s projects have also been put on hold. The release of his Disney+ series “Knock-Off,” one of the platform’s highly anticipated shows, has been paused indefinitely. The streaming service has removed any mention of the project from its upcoming lineup announcements.
In a recent hearing for a lawsuit filed by Cuckoo Electronics, the court questioned the grounds for the company’s contract termination. The court noted that Kim Soo-hyun is currently facing allegations, not legal convictions, and requested the company provide a clearer legal basis for its claim that he breached their trust.
Escalating Rhetoric and Public Scrutiny
The dispute has been marked by intense and sometimes inflammatory language from both sides. Kim Soo-hyun’s lawyer, Ko Sang-rok, came under fire for using derogatory terms on social media, referring to the opposing party with words like “bipolar madman” and “emotionally unstable South American bird.” The lawyer later acknowledged that his terminology was “inappropriate for a lawyer to use,” but defended his actions as part of a “tough fight” against what he characterized as cybercrimes and fraud.
Kim Sae-ron’s mother subsequently filed complaints with the Korean Bar Association seeking disciplinary action against Ko. She expressed fear that public opinion could be swayed by the actor’s side, stating, “I fear the world might believe the other party’s falsehoods, and the truth could be buried.”
The tragic circumstances of Kim Sae-ron’s death on February 16, 2025—which was also Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday—add a layer of profound gravity to the ongoing legal proceedings. Before her passing, the late actress faced immense financial pressure, including a demand from Gold Medalist for repayment of 686 million KRW (approximately $473,000) related to costs from a 2022 DUI incident that derailed her career.
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