Kim Soo Hyun's global rebranding begins amid 50K+ demanding GaroSero crackdown

Indian Express

3 days ago

Amid the fallout in South Korea over the Kim Sae Ron dating controversy, Kim Soo Hyun is quietly getting an image makeover overseas. A longtime heavyweight in Korean entertainment, Soo Hyun's hit drama My Love from the Star, which originally aired back in 2013, is finally making its South American debut nearly 11 years later. Meanwhile, the series is being re-aired in Taiwan. Support trucks are being sent across borders, and the moment's being celebrated loudly on social media by his fan. All this while, GaroSero, the YouTube channel that first accused the actor of dating the late Sae Ron when she was a minor, is now in hot water, with the Anti-GaroSero Act gaining serious traction through a petition that's pushing for legal reform.
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Weeks after reports that some of Kim Soo Hyun's early K-dramas have seen a sudden popularity spike on OTT platforms across various countries, Brazil's biggest private TV network, SBT, kicked off the broadcast of My Love from the Star on June 2. The move comes under a new programming block titled 'Asian Production Line,' dedicated to Asian shows in a nod to how the entertainment industry has grown and shifted globally. As for why they picked this particular drama, SBT said, 'The drama has achieved international popularity and commercial success across multiple countries. With its unique blend of romance, drama, sci-fi, and humour, along with a captivating script and stellar performances, it resonates with fans of all ages,' per KBIZOOM.
The Brazilian audience seems excited as well. Fans have been flooding SBT's website and social media pages with messages, promotional content, and big support. SBT further said, 'The airing of My Love from the Star on SBT reflects how K-dramas are no longer niche content, but now a key part of mainstream programming. We're actively following social media and streaming trends to cater to the open TV audience.'
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Starring Jun Ji Hyun, Park Hae Jin, Yoo In Na, and Ahn Jae Hyun, My Love from the Star is a fantasy rom-com that follows Do Min Joon, an alien who landed on Earth during the Joseon Dynasty and has been stuck here for over 400 years. Do Min Joon's unsympathetic view of humans starts to crack when top actress Cheon Song Yi moves in next door and flips his life upside down.
Kim Soo Hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, have filed lawsuits against both Kim Se Ui and Kim Sae Ron's family, accusing them of defamation, privacy violations, and spreading personal material with malicious intent. According to Nate News, a few days ago, a public petition titled 'Petition to Improve the System to Prevent the Repeated Spread of False Information and Human Rights Violations on Online Platforms' was submitted to South Korea's National Assembly on May 22. By June 3, over 54,000 people had signed it, and it's still open until June 21. The act has been dubbed the Anti-Garo Sero, and it calls for action against YouTubers like Kim Se Ui (the host), including legal punishment, platform-based sanctions, and an independent investigation.
Soo Hyun's Disney+ Plus series Knock Off, alongside actor Jo Bo Ah, has been put on hold. The actor has also lost major brand endorsements, including Shabu All Day, which recently replaced him with actor Kim Woo Bin. Soo Hyun earlier admitted to knowing Kim Sae Ron but insisted on being in a relationship only after the actor turned 18. During a press conference, he explained why he initially denied it. He said, 'I made that decision as the celebrity Kim Soo Hyun,' adding that he was trying to protect his image and the K-drama Queen of Tears. He now faces lawsuits demanding he pay back 5.8 billion KRW.