Kim Soo Hyun's brand value drops to zero as 16 ‘frustrated' advertisers demand billions in damages
Also read: Kim Soo Hyun moves National Forensic Service after his plush apartment seized; to challenge Garosero's 'fabricated' evidence
June has been brutal for the once-beloved K-drama star, whose apartment and assets worth millions were seized by two brands that publicly revealed their identities. Medical skincare brand Classys swooped in on his Galleria Forêt apartment, which he had purchased back in 2013 and 2014. Classys filed a lawsuit demanding ₩3.00 billion KRW (approx. $2.19 million USD). The very next day, South Korean electronics giant Cuckoo headed to court to freeze Soo Hyun's assets worth about ₩100 million KRW (roughly $73,500 USD). Along with its multiple subsidiaries—including a rice cooker brand and its Chinese affiliate—the company is demanding ₩850 million KRW (around $625,000 USD) in damages. A joint lawsuit combining all the holdings Soo Hyun represented totals ₩2.03 billion KRW (around $1.47 million USD). On April 25, another cosmetic brand moved to court, demanding ₩510 million KRW (roughly $367,000 USD). And now, two more brands have come forward: ₩510 million from Trendmaker and ₩3.96 billion from Frombio. So far, the total claimed damages have skyrocketed to ₩7.34 billion.
Also read: Kim Soo Hyun loses millions in assets to home appliance brand after luxury apartment seizure; fails to pay damages
Prada, which had signed the actor just months before the controversy derailed his career and upcoming projects, was the first international brand to pull the plug. Kim Soo Hyun's brand reputation has been completely wiped out despite him constantly trending on local trackers. His popularity still soars, both in South Korea and globally, with support trucks arriving from countries with massive K-drama fandoms. Some fans even went as far as filing independent lawsuits after hiring their own attorneys to defend the actor.
Soo Hyun's legal team, LKB & Partners, earlier issued a statement saying the evidence being used by advertisers to distance themselves is completely fabricated. They've now moved the case to the national forensics department in hopes of flipping the narrative. 'What Garo Sero is claiming is false, and it's becoming increasingly clear that Kim Soo Hyun is the actual victim here,' his lawyer said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
14 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Mothevari Love Story's Anil Geela credits Vijay Deverakonda for ‘push' towards cinema: ‘Played huge role in my career'
Almost a decade ago, when the people of Lambadipally, Telangana, decided to share bits of their lives on the YouTube channel My Village Show, little did they know their world was about to change. Staggering views, love from celebrities and fans alike, and a lot of exposure later, Anil Geela is playing the lead actor in the Zee5 web series Mothevari Love Story. Incidentally, it's directed by Burra Shiva Krishna, who is also an alum of the channel. In a candid interview with Hindustan Times, Anil talks about playing the lead, his love for acting, how the Deverakonda brothers supported his career and more. Anil Geela acted with Vijay Deverakonda in the 2020 film World Famous Lover. My Village Show alum goes places Anil says the spark for acting began even before he could've dreamt of seeing himself on the big screen. 'Whenever I would act on YouTube, it would spark a deep interest in me. Soon, people approached me for cameos in star-driven films. And when I saw myself on the big screen, I knew I could move beyond playing small roles and maybe even play the lead some day,' says Anil. Some of his co-stars from the YouTube channel – Gangavva, Raju, Chandru, Anji Maama and others – have also forayed into films, bringing visibility to the whole team. 'Our work brought us recognition, and it's all the more special because people from our region rarely get a chance to act in films. All this was only possible because we believed in creating quality entertainment which brought us closer to the audience,' he says. The making of Mothevari Love Story Mothevari Love Story sticks to Anil's roots by telling the story of two youngsters from rural Telangana who decide to elope, only to find themselves in odd circumstances. 'This web series was created with today's audience in mind – people who are caught up in stressful jobs and busy lives. We wanted to bring them some fun, laughter, and a break from daily stress. The series uses pure Telangana slang and reflects real village life,' explains the actor. It helped that the series' story is based on real-life drama that Anil says happens in many rural households. He also says that all the actors who acted in it are from Telangana and fluent in the dialect, making it all the more authentic. 'We're proud to represent our region with honesty,' he says, adding, 'Right now, films and series rooted in Telangana culture are getting a lot of appreciation, and we feel lucky to be a part of that. We've been creating Telangana-based rural content for a decade, so this comes very naturally to us.' Anil also cannot believe that the channel evolved from something simple to producing content like Mothevari Love Story today. 'Many of our team members acted in it, our writer is now the director, our production manager is the producer. What more could I ask for?' he says. The Deverakonda brothers' support Anil and the rest of the My Village Show crew might all be self-made, but the actor says acting in Vijay Deverakonda's 2020 film World Famous Lover boosted his confidence. It also made him decide that he is looking to play strong characters that support the story, be it as a lead or otherwise. 'My focus is not just on being the lead, but on acting in roles that suit me and allow me to grow. I want to continue acting and take on meaningful projects,' he says. His YouTube channel has hosted numerous stars promoting their films over the years, and Anil believes that 'goodwill' is now helping him. 'I want to give a big thanks to Anand Deverakonda, Tarun Bhascker, Priyadarshi, and many others who supported us by sharing posts and stories of the series on social media,' he says, adding, 'But the biggest push came from Vijay Deverakonda anna. He gave me my first big opportunity in cinema. It played a huge role in my career. Later, when we approached Anand Deverakonda to release our series' poster, he agreed to do so. Their support has made a major impact on my journey, and I'm truly thankful to both of them.'
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Ed Sheeran Slams Lip-Syncing Artists: 'They Do It But Will Never Admit It'
Ed Sheeran called out fellow musicians for lip-syncing on stage, saying 'they would never admit it.' He also shared why he can't get away with miming. Ed Sheeran says he always sings live and can't mime due to his loop pedal setup. Ed Sheeran has called out a common yet controversial practice in the music industry—lip-syncing during live performances. The Grammy-winning artist, who is currently touring Europe as part of his Mathematics Tour, recently made some candid revelations about fellow musicians who mime on stage but rarely own up to it. During a fun segment on a Beta Squad YouTube video, Sheeran was tasked with identifying voices of popular singers. While interacting with the participants, one contestant admitted that she would consider lip-syncing if her voice wasn't up to par. Ed responded, 'I don't know if a professional singer would admit to miming." Another contestant followed up, saying, 'I thought a lot of professional artists do that though?" To this, Ed Sheeran agreed but added, 'They don't admit to it though." When asked if he had ever lip-synced in his career, Sheeran clarified that he doesn't have that luxury due to his unique performance style. 'I can't get away with it because it's me with a loop pedal and a guitar," he said. 'But I would never cancel a show for my voice. I'd always push through, even if it was, like, slightly raspy." Sheeran doubled down on his point, stating, 'I feel like if you are a professional singer, even if you do mime—because there are professional singers that mime, but they would never admit that they mime." The Shape of You singer has long been praised for his no-frills, raw stage presence, often relying solely on his vocals, guitar, and loop pedal to entertain massive stadium crowds. His honesty about the behind-the-scenes practices of the industry has sparked fresh conversations about the authenticity of live performances. Currently, Ed Sheeran is continuing the European leg of his Mathematics Tour, which first kicked off in 2022. He is scheduled to perform next at Middenvijver Park in Antwerp, Belgium, on August 7. First Published: August 07, 2025, 05:17 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Blackpink's Rose is in disbelief over 8 solo VMA 2025 nominations: ‘I am beyond shocked..'
The 2025 MTV Video Music Award nominations just dropped, and among the standout names is Blackpink's Rose, who has officially made her mark as a solo artist. The K-pop singer-songwriter earned an eye-popping eight solo nominations, and her reaction? Total disbelief. Blackpink's Rose is in disbelief over 8 solo VMA 2025 nominations 'So I've just heard that I've received eight VMA nominations,' Rose said in a video posted to her Instagram Stories, clearly stunned and emotional. 'I am beyond shocked and I just don't know what to say. I'm absolutely speechless! This is a crazy day! Whoa! It's really, really wild! What's happening?!' She followed the video with a screenshot of her nominations and a caption that read simply: 'waaaahhh???' This marks Rosé's first time being nominated as a solo act at the VMAs, and her nods cover some of the night's biggest categories. She's up for Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Visual Effects — all for APT., her Billboard Hot 100 No. 3 smash with Bruno Mars. She's also competing in Best K-pop for her solo single Toxic Til the End, the third track from her debut solo album Rosie. Her impressive nomination haul puts her on par with the most nominated artists of the year, tied with Sabrina Carpenter at eight. Only Lady Gaga (12), Bruno Mars (11), and Kendrick Lamar (10) have more, while Ariana Grande and The Weeknd follow closely with seven each. And Rosé isn't the only Blackpink member in the spotlight this year. Jennie's Like JENNIE, Jisoo's Earthquake, and Lisa's Born Again (a collab with Doja Cat and RAYE) have all received nominations for Best K-pop, marking Jennie and Jisoo's first solo nods outside of Blackpink. The 2025 MTV VMAs will air live on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 8 p.m. ET from the UBS Arena in New York.
