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«Kim Soo-hyun Ordered to Pay 1.16 Billion Won.» On November 13, the news made headlines across the Korean press. The Suwon District Court partially ruled in favor of FromBIO, a dietary supplement brand, in its dispute with the actor. But behind this sensational headline, the reality of the ruling is much more nuanced. His representatives clarify: the court found no fault on his part, and this is not an award of damages.
What the Judgment Says
The 14th Civil Division of the Suwon District Court ordered the actor and the other defendants—presumably his agency—to jointly pay FromBIO approximately 1.16 billion won, plus interest. Court costs are to be shared: 70 % for FromBIO and 30 % for the defendants.
FromBIO had hired Kim Soo-hyun as a brand ambassador in 2024. After the scandal that erupted over his private life, the brand had sued him in May 2025, arguing that its image had been damaged and demanding a full refund of his fee as well as penalties.
No charges were brought against the actor
That is the point his representatives are emphasizing. According to them, the court rejected all claims based on Kim Soo-hyun’s misconduct: it ruled that neither he nor his agency had breached their obligations, and that FromBIO’s decision to terminate the contract was not justified. Nor were the explanations provided by the actor following the allegations deemed to be false.
The court reportedly even identified the root of the problem: the actor’s negative image stems primarily from the dissemination of false information by Kim Se-ui and his associates. As a reminder, Kim Se-ui is currently in custody and prosecuted in connection with this case.
Restitution, not damages
So why this amount? According to her representatives, it is not a penalty for any wrongdoing. It stems from a clause in the contract, which stipulates that if the advertisements cannot be aired—even through no fault of the spokesperson—her compensation may be adjusted on a pro-rata basis for the days in question. In other words, the actor must return the portion of his fee corresponding to the period during which FromBIO was unable to use his advertisements.
In applying this clause, the court held that the situation, caused by Kim Se-ui’s actions, constituted «force majeure.».
The actor is appealing
This is precisely the point that Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team is contesting; they filed an appeal as soon as they were notified of the ruling. His representatives object to the idea that being the victim of a crime should be treated as a case of force majeure, and that the victim should ultimately bear the financial consequences.
They also warn of a dangerous precedent. If false allegations are enough to deprive a celebrity of their earnings, «cyber-trolls»—content creators who thrive on controversy and rumors—would have a formidable means of exerting pressure. In their view, it is up to the authors of false information to take responsibility for the damage they cause.
The case is therefore proceeding before the Court of Appeals, alongside the criminal proceedings against Kim Se-ui and the investigation that led, in late October, to the referral of the case file to the prosecutor’s office regarding the Kim Sae-ron's mother and her lawyer.