Legal experts are now publicly discussing Kim Soo-hyun’s handling of the ongoing claims from the family of the late Kim Sae-ron regarding their past relationship. With Kim Soo-hyun remaining silent on the matter, concerns are being raised about potential repercussions for his current and future projects.
Potential Financial Repercussions for “Knock-Off”
Lawyer Kim Kwang-sam recently appeared on YTN News NOW to offer his legal perspective on the situation. He specifically addressed the speculation that Disney+ might seek a substantial penalty, possibly exceeding 100 billion won, from Kim Soo-hyun due to the production challenges with his upcoming drama, “Knock-Off.”
Kim Kwang-sam explained the typical structure of entertainment contracts:
Entertainment contracts usually include clauses related to production costs. Reportedly, the production budget for ‘Knock-Off’ was around 60 billion won, and generally, penalty fees are set at two to three times that amount.
However, he cautioned against assuming such an extreme penalty would be enforced in this specific case:
When the penalty amount becomes excessively large, it cannot always be calculated as simply two to three times the production cost. If Kim Soo-hyun were forced to pay an excessive penalty, it could create an unfair situation where the production company profits from the breach. Such cases are rare. Even if this goes to court, I don’t think a significantly high penalty will be upheld. That said, he will likely still have to pay a substantial amount.
Criticism of Kim Soo-hyun’s Response
Regarding the core controversy surrounding his relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron, Kim Kwang-sam stated:
It’s clear that Kim Soo-hyun’s image has suffered a major blow. The situation has turned into a ‘truth game’ and a messy dispute. The key issue here is that Kim Soo-hyun did, in fact, date Kim Sae-ron.
He directly criticized Kim Soo-hyun’s shifting statements:
Initially, his side denied any relationship, but later, they claimed they started dating after she became an adult. Based on the latest revelations, it appears they were in a relationship when she was still a minor.
Kim Kwang-sam clarified the legal aspects of the situation:
Dating a minor is not illegal in itself. Even if there was physical contact, the laws at the time did not criminalize it, so Kim Soo-hyun would not face legal consequences. However, with evidence showing they were involved when Kim Sae-ron was 16 or 17, it is difficult to deny the relationship. He is now in a position where he has no choice but to acknowledge it.
The lawyer further elaborated on what he believes was a mishandling of the situation by Kim Soo-hyun and his agency:
Had he admitted from the start that they dated when she was younger, clarified that their relationship was mutual, and explained when they broke up and how they had no further contact, this situation might not have escalated. However, both he and his agency made mistakes in their handling of the issue.
Kim Kwang-sam concluded by emphasizing the damage to Kim Soo-hyun’s public image due to the perceived inconsistencies in his statements:
When someone tells one lie, the public naturally starts doubting everything else they say. In that sense, Kim Soo-hyun’s response has been poorly managed.
Background of the Controversy
The current scrutiny intensified after the family of the late Kim Sae-ron reportedly revealed KakaoTalk messages from 2016, when she was 16 years old, suggesting communication and a possible relationship with Kim Soo-hyun at that time. This contradicted Kim Soo-hyun’s previous statements that they only began dating after Kim Sae-ron reached adulthood. Initially, when rumors arose from a shared photo posted by Kim Sae-ron while she was alive, Kim Soo-hyun’s representatives stated they were unsure of her intentions. However, as public speculation grew, their stance evolved to claim a relationship only after she turned 19 (the age of majority in South Korea). Kim Soo-hyun has yet to directly address the newly revealed messages from Kim Sae-ron’s family.
