Grooming, harassment, lies: Kim Soo Hyun's agency drops legal bomb on cyber wreckers

Actor Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, GOLDMEDALIST, has launched a legal offensive against individuals spreading defamatory content, sexual harassment, and false rumours online. In an official statement issued on April 15, the management company confirmed that it has filed a formal complaint citing violations under South Korea’s Information and Communications Network Act and Criminal Act.

The move comes amid intensifying online backlash against the ‘Queen of Tears’ star, following a string of accusations and speculative content linking him to the late actress Kim Sae Ron.

Legal steps against defamation and false claims

GOLDMEDALIST highlighted the growing volume of baseless posts and malicious comments directed at Kim, which they say have led to public misunderstanding and significantly damaged his reputation. The agency said the legal complaint was filed on April 14 after receiving extensive reports from fans and conducting its own internal monitoring.

In their statement, the agency said:

"Recently, malicious posts and comments directed at our artist Kim Soo Hyun have been indiscriminately posted and circulated online. In particular, there are baseless speculative posts and unverified claims that have been posted continuously and repeatedly, leading the public to have misconceptions and damaging the artist's reputation."

They categorised the circulation of false information, personal attacks, and sexual harassment on social media and online platforms as criminal acts that must not be ignored.

Targeting cyber wreckers on global platforms

The agency also addressed the issue of so-called “cyber wreckers” — anonymous individuals who generate fake news and provocative video content with the intent to fuel online hate and bullying.

"The behaviour of 'cyber rent-a-thug' that takes advantage of anonymity to create fake news and produce videos and shorts that lead to cyberbullying is also serious," the statement read.

GOLDMEDALIST further revealed that they have identified at least one individual responsible and are pursuing action not only domestically but also on global platforms like YouTube and X.

"Recently, as the identity of the cyber rent-a-thug has been revealed and legal action is underway, we will also take strict countermeasures against overseas platforms such as YouTube and X in conjunction with overseas legal representatives."

The agency pledged to continue lodging additional complaints and vowed to take “strong legal action” to safeguard Kim Soo Hyun’s rights.

"We plan to continue filing additional complaints regarding these malicious posts that harm the artist's reputation and will do our utmost to protect the artist's rights with strong legal action against clear criminal acts in the future."

The agency concluded by thanking fans for their continued support.

Controversy surrounding Kim Sae Ron and career fallout

Kim Soo Hyun, best known for his roles in ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ and ‘Queen of Tears,’ has recently been under scrutiny following allegations of grooming late actress Kim Sae Ron. The actress died by suicide in 2024 on Kim’s birthday, fuelling further speculation.

Online users have criticised the actor for allegedly dating Kim Sae Ron when she was still a minor. The backlash extended to revisiting his past interviews, which further intensified the debate.

Amid this controversy, Kim Soo Hyun’s appearance on the G-Dragon-led variety show ‘Good Day’ became another point of contention. While the programme initially received promising ratings thanks to its star-studded cast — including Jung Hae-in, Im Si-wan, Lee Soo Hyuk, and Kwanghee — the numbers reportedly plummeted following the scandal.

Media outlets such as News1 and Wikitree suggested that the actor’s controversy significantly contributed to the decline in viewership, which eventually dropped to 2.7 percent.

Despite calls for his removal, Kim appeared in the March 16 episode, having filmed on March 13. Wikitree reported, "Despite the uproar, Kim Soo Hyun proceeded with filming on March 13 and appeared in the March 16 broadcast, sparking further backlash."

Producers later confirmed they would minimise his screen time and cut out individual segments. “However, these measures weren’t enough to bring back viewers,” according to Wikitree