On May 3, former entertainment reporter and YouTuber Lee Jin Ho claimed in a video that an acquaintance had recently run into Kim Soo Hyun in Seongsu-dong. According to Lee Jin Ho, the actor appeared noticeably “gaunt” and “worn out.”
According to the report, witnesses described his appearance as drastically thinner and worn out compared to just weeks prior. The video also included a striking claim: “Even just breathing costs him tens of millions of won. Isn’t that too harsh?”
This statement appears to reference the massive financial burden he may be facing due to lawsuits and halted projects.
Lee Jin Ho claimed that Kim Soo Hyun is facing heavy monthly expenses while his legal dispute remains unresolved. He also alleged that the situation surrounding the actor’s agency, Gold Medalist, has worsened after some actors left the company.
The controversy stems from allegations raised by the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, which claimed that Kim Soo Hyun had dated the late Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor. Kim Soo Hyun admitted to a past relationship but denied the timeline alleged by the channel, stating that they dated after Kim Sae Ron became an adult.
Kim Soo Hyun’s side has since taken legal action against Garo Sero Institute’s Kim Se Ui and Kim Sae Ron’s bereaved family on defamation-related grounds. The case remains ongoing.
At the same time, the controversy has significantly impacted his career: Multiple advertisers reportedly filed high-value lawsuits and his Disney+ series Knock Off has been indefinitely postponed. The show, once considered one of Disney+’s most anticipated Korean originals for 2025, is said to be 98% complete, with filming stalled due to the ongoing situation.
Meanwhile, public opinion remains deeply divided—some expressing concern for Kim Soo Hyun’s well-being, while others continue to scrutinize the unresolved controversy.
Sources: MoneyToday/Daum report , OSEN report , DongA Ilbo report , MK English report
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