The 3.9 billion won damages lawsuit between actor Kim Soo-hyun and health functional food company FromBio has resumed after approximately eight months. The trial has drawn significant attention as it is the first hearing held since Kim Se-ui, the CEO of the YouTube channel Hover Lab—which raised allegations regarding Kim's private life—was referred to prosecutors in custody.
On the morning of June 10, the 14th Civil Division of the Suwon District Court held the third hearing for the 3.96 billion won damages lawsuit filed by FromBio against Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Goldmedalist. Although it was the first hearing in about eight months since the second hearing in October last year, the proceedings concluded just five minutes after starting.
During the hearing, the court pointed out that the plaintiff, FromBio, needs to clarify the specific reasons for Kim Soo-hyun's alleged breach of his duty to maintain dignity. Consequently, FromBio agreed to organize and submit a table detailing the alleged grounds for the breach, the relevant evidence, and the basis for how each issue constitutes a violation of contractual obligations.
Once the materials are submitted, the court plans to organize the key issues, receive additional responses from Kim's side, and define the scope of the legal dispute. The next hearing is scheduled for July 22.
Previously, Hover Lab CEO Kim Se-ui was referred to prosecutors in custody on charges of spreading false information. He is accused of fabricating the voice of the late Kim Sae-ron using AI and forging KakaoTalk conversations presented as evidence of their relationship to falsely claim that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor between March and May of last year.
Kim Soo-hyun will resume his activities starting with an advertising shoot for a Philippine brand on July 14.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)