In May 2025, a Seoul court froze one of Kim Soo-hyun’s luxury apartments at the Galleria Forêt complex after the medical aesthetics company Classys sought roughly 3 billion won in damages over a terminated endorsement deal. The order in this Kim Soo-hyun apartment lawsuit was a provisional seizure, not a sale, and it was one of several legal actions brought by brands that had cut ties with the actor after a March 2025 scandal. Police have since concluded that the allegations behind that scandal were based on fabricated and AI-manipulated evidence.
The Classys Seizure Order
Classys, which makes the Volnewmer aesthetic device, filed for the seizure on May 8, 2025, alleging breach of its advertising contract. The Seoul Eastern District Court granted the request on May 20, 2025, freezing about 3 billion won (roughly $2.2 million) in value against one of Kim Soo-hyun’s units at Galleria Forêt in Seongdong-gu, Seoul.1Maeil Business Newspaper. Kim Soo Hyun Apartment Seizure2Indian Express. Kim Soo Hyun Moves National Forensic Service After Apartment Seized
A provisional seizure under Korean law, known as ga-ap-ryu, is a court measure that temporarily blocks the owner from selling or transferring property while a monetary claim is being litigated. It does not require a full trial. Courts can grant it on a relatively low evidentiary threshold, often without a hearing, if the creditor shows a plausible claim and a risk that later enforcement would be difficult.1Maeil Business Newspaper. Kim Soo Hyun Apartment Seizure
Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team acknowledged the seizure but argued the underlying scandal rested on manipulated evidence, and that if the allegations were disproven the basis for the damages would collapse.3Biz Chosun. Kim Soo Hyun Classys Apartment Seizure
The Scandal Behind the Lawsuits
In March 2025, a YouTube channel called HoverLab, also known as the Garo Sero Institute and run by former journalist Kim Se-ui, published videos alleging that Kim Soo-hyun had dated the late actress Kim Sae-ron beginning when she was 15 and he was 27. Kim Sae-ron had died in February 2025 at age 24.4CNA Lifestyle. Kim Soo Hyun Kim Sae Ron Allegations False Investigation
At a tearful press conference on March 31, 2025, Kim Soo-hyun denied the underage claim, saying his relationship with Kim Sae-ron took place between 2019 and 2020, after she reached adulthood. His agency, Gold Medalist, backed his account.5CNN. South Korea Kim Soo Hyun Press Conference
Fashion house Prada, cosmetics brand Dinto, and others cut ties in the following weeks. Industry insiders said the actor had roughly 15 active endorsement deals at the time, at annual fees between 700 million and 1 billion won each.5CNN. South Korea Kim Soo Hyun Press Conference6Koreaboo. How Much Kim Soo Hyun Could Potentially Pay
Which Brands Sued, and for How Much
Classys was the first to move, but not the last. Cuckoo Electronics filed its own provisional seizure request on April 24, 2025, targeting about 100 million won of the actor’s assets; the Seoul Eastern District Court granted it on May 20, 2025, the same day as the Classys order.7Tribune (Philippines). Kim Soo Hyun’s Property Seized, Brands Seek Damages
By November 2025, Cuckoo’s claims had grown. Cuckoo Electronics sought 850 million won in one action, while Cuckoo Electronics, Cuckoo HomeSys, and Cuckoo HomeSys Malaysia together filed a second suit for about 2.03 billion won, bringing the Cuckoo total to roughly 2.88 billion won.8Chosun Ilbo. Kim Soo Hyun Cuckoo Lawsuits
A cosmetics company identified in Korean reporting as “Company A” initially sued for 500 million won, then raised its claim to 2.86 billion won at a Seoul Central District Court hearing on November 21, 2025. The company argued Kim Soo-hyun had violated a “dignity maintenance” clause in his contract. His agency denied liability. A third hearing was set for July 3, 2026.9Maeil Business Newspaper. Kim Soo Hyun Cosmetics Company Lawsuit Hearing10Star News Korea. Kim Soo Hyun Cosmetics Lawsuit Hearing July 2026
Health food company FromBio filed the single largest claim: 3.96 billion won against Kim Soo-hyun and Gold Medalist, in the Suwon District Court’s 14th Civil Division. The case stalled for about eight months after a second hearing in October 2025 and resumed on June 10, 2026, when the court told FromBio to submit a detailed table specifying how each allegation constituted a breach of the dignity clause. The next hearing was set for July 22, 2026.11Star News Korea. FromBio Kim Soo Hyun Lawsuit Third Hearing12Sports Khan. FromBio Kim Soo Hyun Suwon Court Hearing
Across all advertiser lawsuits, Korean reporting has placed Kim Soo-hyun’s total exposure from brand claims at about 10 billion won.13Maeil Business Newspaper. Kim Soo Hyun FromBio Lawsuit Court Proceedings
The Galleria Forêt Apartments
Kim Soo-hyun owned three units at Galleria Forêt, an upscale complex in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong neighborhood, assembled over about a decade:
- A 217-square-meter unit bought in October 2013 for 4.02 billion won.
- A 170-square-meter unit bought in May 2014 for 3.02 billion won.
- A penthouse of roughly 297 square meters bought in January 2024 for 8.8 billion won, financed partly with 4.4 billion won in loans.
The real estate industry estimated the combined market value at 28 to 30 billion won.14Maeil Business Newspaper. Kim Soo Hyun Galleria Foret Apartments
On July 3, 2025, Kim sold the second unit for 8 billion won, nearly triple what he paid in 2014. The sale drew speculation that he was liquidating to cover legal costs, but his agency said the deal had been pre-planned with a buyer lined up since 2023. The two remaining apartments stayed in his possession, and one of them was subject to the seizures obtained by Classys (3 billion won) and by Cuckoo’s Malaysian subsidiary (100 million won).15Moneycontrol. Kim Soo Hyun Sells Luxury Seoul Apartment16Indian Express. Fact Check: Did Kim Soo Hyun Sell His Luxury Apartment to Pay for Lawsuit Costs
Police Rule the Evidence Was Fabricated
While the brand suits moved forward, a parallel criminal investigation was unraveling the story that started them. Kim Soo-hyun filed defamation complaints against Kim Se-ui and Kim Sae-ron’s family after the March 2025 press conference, later adding complaints for stalking and false accusation.17Yonhap News Agency. Kim Soo Hyun YouTuber Arrest Warrant
By May 2026, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office and Gangnam Police had concluded the underlying evidence was fabricated. KakaoTalk message screenshots had been manipulated by altering names and profile photos so conversations with other people appeared to involve Kim Soo-hyun. A voice recording said to be of Kim Sae-ron was determined to have been generated or altered with artificial intelligence.18BBC. Kim Soo Hyun AI Evidence Police Investigation19Korea Herald. Kim Se-ui Arrest Warrant Defamation
On May 26, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for Kim Se-ui. Judge Boo Dong-sik cited the risk that he might destroy evidence or flee. The charges included defamation, violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes tied to distributing the manipulated recording, intimidation, and attempted coercion. Investigators alleged he distributed the false material for financial gain, including YouTube advertising revenue. Kim Se-ui called the warrant “forced and unreasonable” and disputed the AI finding. Gangnam Police transferred him to prosecutors on June 4, 2026.20Maeil Business Newspaper. Kim Se-ui Arrest Warrant Issued21Chosun Ilbo. Kim Se-ui Transferred to Prosecutors
Kim Soo-hyun’s Own Lawsuits
Attorney Ko Sang-rok filed a 12 billion won ($8.7 million) civil suit against Kim Se-ui. After the police findings, Kim Soo-hyun’s team said its assessment of total damages had reached about 30 billion won and signaled the civil claim would likely be raised to that figure.22Korea Times. Kim Soo Hyun’s Side Hints at Lawsuit, Says Actor’s Life Was Destroyed
Gold Medalist also obtained provisional seizures against Kim Se-ui: the Garo Sero sponsorship account as of May 20, 2025, and his personal residence as of June 9, 2025.3Biz Chosun. Kim Soo Hyun Classys Apartment Seizure
Where the Cases Stand
Kim Se-ui’s arrest complicated every advertiser suit that depends on the argument that Kim Soo-hyun’s controversy damaged the brand. His defense across the brand suits has been that the claims are groundless and that no contractual liability can arise from a fabricated scandal. Whether courts will accept that position is still open. The Seoul Central District Court cosmetics case had a hearing set for July 3, 2026, and the Suwon District Court FromBio case for July 22, 2026.23Korea Herald. Kim Soo Hyun Advertiser Lawsuits Court Hearings12Sports Khan. FromBio Kim Soo Hyun Suwon Court Hearing
A separate complaint filed by Kim Sae-ron’s family on May 7, 2025, alleging violations of the Child Welfare Act, is not part of the brand lawsuits. As of late November 2025, Kim Sae-ron’s mother said publicly that Kim Soo-hyun had not yet been investigated in connection with it.24Chosun Ilbo. Kim Sae-ron Family Kim Soo Hyun Investigation Status