Kim Soo Hyun's global fan community hires lawyer over cyberbullying, slammed for disrespecting Kim Sae Ron

Indian Express

25-04-2025

After launching a global petition in an attempt to restore the damaged reputation of Kim Soo Hyun, his fans have reportedly now appointed an attorney to protect the actor from what they describe as constant attacks online in the form of malicious comments, rumours, lies, hate remarks, and harassment. According to Korea JoongAng Daily, a group of fans calling themselves the Kim Soo Hyun Korea & Global Fan Alliance announced on April 22 that they've hired a lawyer named Yang Tae Young from Lawfirm Siwoo and released a statement online: 'We believe it is our rightful duty as fans to protect the reputation of the actor.'
Kim Soo Hyun fans fight against cyberbullying
According to the K-media outlet, most of the supporters are either associated with the Daum fan cafe 'Eucharis', or the DC Inside Kim Soo Hyun Gallery, both long-standing and among the biggest online communities for the actor. 'We, fans of Kim Soo Hyun from in and outside of Korea, have agreed that we cannot ignore the continuous derogatory insults, false rumours, defamation, and personal attacks aimed at actor Kim Soo Hyun and hereby appoint Yang Tae Yung as our legal attorney,' the joint statement released Tuesday said. Defending their actions as a move to safeguard 'healthy fan culture' and stressing that the Queen of Tears star has only been focused on his work for years, they said, 'We will take firm measures against any malicious attempts to halt our efforts.'
According to Allkpop, attorney Yang plans to file the complaint with Seoul Seongbuk Police Station this week. The fan union is accusing those spreading false information of defamation under Korea's Information and Communications Network Act and claims they have gathered a lot of proof, including edited pictures, and fake posts that have been spreading online for months.
The move comes after an emotional press conference Kim Soo Hyun held on March 31, where he denied claims that he dated the late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was underage, acknowledging their brief relationship that started in 2019. These claims were pushed by a controversial YouTube channel, GaroSero, which even posted photos and messages claiming the two were romantically involved in 2015, when Kim Sae Ron was 15 and Kim Soo Hyun was 27. 'Not everything that is untrue becomes true,' Soo Hyun said at the press conference and claimed that he would get everything verified through legal authorities. Later his agency Gold Medalist filed criminal charges against YouTuber Kim Se Ui and Sae Ron's family. They're suing for defamation and damages worth 12 billion won.
Kim Soo Hyun's fan communities slammed for disrespecting Kim Sae Ron
Kim Soo Hyun's fans, who are rigorously pushing to defend the actor from cyberbullying, have been accused of mocking and insulting late actor Kim Sae Ron, and the internet couldn't digest the amount of hypocrisy. Screenshots surfaced from inside his fan communities showing them throw disrespectful remarks against the Bloodhounds star and her family. Some of these posts were downright cruel. One mocked the cost of her funeral, others dredged up unverified rumours about the actor's personal life. Some even accused her grieving family of 'trying to profit off their dead daughter.'
Many online users called out the hypocrisy, 'how can Kim's fans demand respect and legal protection for him, while turning around and slandering someone who's no longer here to defend herself?' A fan wrote, adding, South Korean law even recognises defamation of the deceased, something that can carry jail time or fines, and some legal experts say this could become a problem for those fans if taken to court. Meanwhile, Kim Soo Hyun's fans have taken their own initiative, sending out LED trucks showing their support, defending him on social media, and now stepping into the courtroom by backing this legal campaign.