On April 22, 2025, a dedicated group of supporters for actor Kim Soo-hyun took a significant step by launching legal proceedings against individuals spreading unverified allegations and harmful statements about the actor online. This initiative is spearheaded by members from the “Yukaris” fan community on Daum, which boasts a membership of over 29,000, alongside participants from the DC Inside forum.
These passionate fans have stated that legal documents will soon be filed at the Seoul Seongbuk Police Station, with attorney Yang Tae-young from Siwoo Law Office representing their cause. The allegations include the persistent dissemination of misleading information, manipulated images, and defamatory comments targeting Kim Soo-hyun across various digital platforms.
The group contends that such activities violate the Information and Communications Network Act, which permits third parties to file defamation complaints on someone’s behalf. Over the past few months, they have methodically gathered evidence to bolster their claims, underlining the seriousness of the threats to the actor’s reputation.
“We, fans of Kim Soo-hyun from in and outside of Korea, have agreed that we cannot ignore the continuous derogatory insults, false rumors, defamation and personal attacks aimed at actor Kim Soo-hyun and hereby appoint Yang Tae-young as our legal attorney,”the coalition stated, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily.
In contrast to typical defamation cases that require direct complaints from the injured parties, this legislation allows fans to act on behalf of the actor. Both domestic and international supporters have come together to document harmful online behavior, reinforcing their commitment to safeguarding Kim’s public image.
“We will take active and firm legal measures against malicious posts and comments aimed at Kim Soo-hyun, as well as news articles that are based on false stories or are intentionally twisted,”the fans asserted.
Building on this momentum, the supporters articulated:
“Kim Soo-hyun has been continuing his work for years, doing his job. We believe it is our rightful duty as fans to protect the reputation of the actor. We will take firm measures against any malicious attempts to halt our efforts.”
Legal Action Follows Allegations of Underage Romance with Kim Sae-ron
This move by fans follows closely on the heels of a separate complaint filed on April 15 by Gold Medalist, the agency representing Kim Soo-hyun. They accused various entities of publishing speculative narratives and unfounded accusations that have negatively impacted the actor’s public image.
The fans’ collective response was triggered by allegations made by the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, known as Hoverlab, associated with far-right creator Kim Se-ui. The channel has been disseminating claims that Kim Soo-hyun had a relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron during her teenage years, stirring up significant online discourse since these allegations emerged in March.
To support their claims, the channel referenced images of the two and a letter purportedly written by Kim during his military service. In response to the situation, the actor’s agency released a statement clarifying that their relationship occurred between mid-2019 and late 2020, with both parties being of legal age at that time.
Furthermore, Kim Soo-hyun addressed these claims during a media briefing last month, reiterating that while he did have a past relationship with Kim Sae-ron, it began after she reached adulthood. Following these developments, the management agency filed a lawsuit seeking 12 billion won in damages from Kim Sae-ron’s family and the creator behind the YouTube channel Hoverlab. Gold Medalist has previously taken legal action against Kim Se-ui for reputational damage and ongoing digital harassment.
Authorities are expected to begin their review of these complaints promptly following their submission, illuminating the continued challenges faced by public figures in today’s digital landscape.