In a significant legal breakthrough, a Kim Soo-hyun advertiser lawsuit victory has been officially delivered by the Seoul Eastern District Court. On August 27, 2026, the 13th Civil Division dismissed a 570 million KRW ($420,000) deposit refund lawsuit filed by watch brand MIDO against Kim’s agency, Goldmedalist.
The ruling marks the actor’s first court victory among several high-profile damages suits filed by advertisers following disproven online allegations.
Court Rules No Fault Exists on Model’s Side
MIDO had filed suit seeking a refund for the remaining duration of their endorsement deal after false claims emerged in early 2025. Goldmedalist countered that the actor bore zero responsibility for damages caused by fabricated third-party leaks. The court agreed with Kim’s defense, ruling that valid grounds for contract termination did not exist.
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| KIM SOO-HYUN ADVERTISER LAWSUIT VICTORY SUMMARY |
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| 1. Court Ruling : Seoul Eastern District Court 13th Civil Division (Aug 27) |
| 2. Plaintiff & Claim : MIDO filed for 570M KRW ($420K) deposit refund |
| 3. Court Verdict : Plaintiff's claim fully dismissed (No model fault found) |
| 4. Current Status : Perpetrators indicted in custody for AI data fabrication |
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Investigations previously confirmed that key online evidence—including fake chat logs and voice recordings—had been illegally generated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The perpetrators responsible for the defamation campaign were subsequently arrested and indicted.
Legal Team Outlook on Remaining Cases
Addressing the milestone judgment, Kim Soo-hyun’s legal representative, Attorney Bang Seong-hoon of Pyungsan Law Firm, shared an optimistic outlook for pending cases with other brand sponsors.
“This ruling establishes that while advertisers suffered commercial harm from external rumors, legal liability cannot be shifted onto an innocent endorsement model,” stated Attorney Bang. “Because contract frameworks across plaintiffs remain fundamentally similar, we anticipate positive outcomes for remaining cases.”
Following his legal vindication, Kim recently resumed global public activities, starting with international fashion campaigns and fan meetings across Asia.
