Kim Soo Hyun Addresses Unpaid Court Fees Rumors in His Legal Battle Against the Late Kim Sae Ron's Family

Actor Kim Soo Hyun has finally addressed the rumors surrounding unpaid court fees in his legal battle against the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron

Actor Kim Soo Hyun is known for his roles in hit K-Dramas like "My Love From Another Star" and "Hotel de Mongolie." Now, he's involved in a legal battle that has been making headlines in Korea.

Kim Soo Hyun is suing the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron, who starred in "The Last Stand," and Garosero Research Institute, also known as HoverLab, for 12 billion KRW (about $8.76 million) in damages. The lawsuit was filed in March.

Recently, there were reports that the court fees in the case had not been fully paid, but the actor’s legal team has now shared a clear statement confirming that all fees have been settled in total.

As of April 19, all 38,128,684 KRW (about $26,790) in court fees have been completely paid by Kim Soo Hyun’s side, according to his legal representative. This addresses recent claims made by Myungbo Ilbo, which reported that the fees were still outstanding.

The case came into the spotlight earlier this year. It is related to a malicious rumor that was spread about Kim Soo Hyun in 2021. The rumor claimed that the actor had an affair with a married woman, leading to the breakdown of her family.

This rumor was later found to be fabricated by Kim Sae Ron’s mother and an associate of Garosero Research Institute, with the aim of extorting money from the actor. The institute’s CEO, Park A, is said to have been preparing to sue Kim Soo Hyun for 10 billion KRW.

However, in a press briefing on April 12, Kim Soo Hyun himself spoke about the case and shared that his relationship with Kim Sae Ron, who is now being investigated for drunk driving, began only after she reached adulthood and lasted for about a year.

He also stated that her family had manipulated KakaoTalk messages, presenting edited versions that mixed up the timeline of their relationship. A forensic analysis report from the National Science Institute supported Kim Soo Hyun’s claim, showing that the alleged messages were not from him.

This statement came shortly after the Seoul Central District Court issued a correction order for a previous report by Myungbo Ilbo. The report, published on April 5, had claimed that the first hearing in the case would take place on April 13. However, the court clarified that no such hearing had been scheduled yet.

The case itself is a complex one, with several individuals implicated. Apart from Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Sae Ron, and Park A, another woman, identified only as the “fake aunt,” is also involved. This woman is said to have been criminally charged for her role in fabricating the rumor and for attempting to extort money from Kim Soo Hyun.

Kim’s attorney further explained that they are still unable to confirm the "fake aunt's" real name, contact information, or national ID number. But authorities are expected to track her through call records and investigation data from other related parties.

Though a specific date for the first hearing has not been announced yet, it is expected that the civil case will progress alongside the ongoing criminal investigation.

As the case continues to unfold, fans are eagerly awaiting updates and wish Kim Soo Hyun the best in this trying time.