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The internet is divided over Kim Soo Hyun’s latest controversy involving his relationship with the late actor Kim Sae Ron. Some loyal fans have launched global petitions to defend him and are pushing hard to restore his damaged image. Recently, according to Koreaboo, an advertisement featuring Soo Hyun in Seoul has caused a heated debate among Korean netizens on social media. The ad, believed to be put up by his fans, is seen as another attempt to boost his popularity. Locals who oppose the ad fear it will damage the country’s reputation even further, especially since the case has already made global headlines.
According to the outlet, the subway ad, which was spotted in Hongdae Station, shows Kim Soo Hyun on CHOEAEDOL Celeb promotional poster, a platform where fans can crowdfund ads for their favourite celebrities. Hongdae Station is a major hub in Seoul, close to Hongik University, and thus, the place is often packed with students, foreigners, and locals because of its lively atmosphere. An X user shared how they received a tip that the Queen of Tears star’s poster is at Exit 3 of the station. The user then shared the picture on social media, criticising the move. The post has since raked in thousands of views, with K-netizens voicing their frustration.
Also Read | Kim Soo Hyun’s team hunts for Kim Sae Ron’s ‘fake aunt’ in $9M lawsuit: ‘No ID, no number, no name’
One person posted a tweet saying, “What are you doing??” “What a national embarrassment,” another slammed the poster, worried that foreigners might see it and remember the controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun. A post read, “Foreigners might see it and go, ‘Oh, Kim Soo Hyun is up there… wasn’t he accused of a crime? What’s wrong with Korea?’ Wouldn’t they think that way? People who like Korea would definitely know about this kind of issue… It even made BBC News…”
Also Read | Kim Soo Hyun breaks silence on financial trouble amid lawsuit discrepancy: ‘We did not fail to pay…’
For the unversed, Kim Soo Hyun’s case was widely covered by foreign media, including some prominent publications like TMZ and BBC. The massive negative attention towards the country angered the locals, following which a petition was filed called the Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Act, demanding the government to introduce a new law aimed at raising the age of consent to 19 and take stricter action against statutory rape.
In simpler terms, CHOEAEDOL Celeb is a mobile phone application that enables fans to vote for their favourite celebrities, whether from K-dramas or K-pop. It also features real-time rankings, quizzes, etc. It can also be used for crowdfunding to support fan events and even for purchasing billboards to display advertisements for the celebrities. Fans of Kim Soo Hyun who support the ad argued that his international popularity is why the ad was up, and people shouldn’t be surprised by it. However, many others, including those on the platform that allowed the ad, criticised the decision. Some suggested that if the votes were taken before the news broke, it might make sense, but after the controversy, they felt the ad should have been removed.
After quashing rumours of financial strain by publicly announcing that Kim Soo Hyun’s one-man agency has paid the court fees to bring their lawsuit into action after a deadline extension was requested, the actor’s legal firm, LKB & Partners, revealed that they are now searching for Kim Sae Ron’s aunt—who first accused the actor of having an inappropriate relationship with Sae Ron. According to Soo Hyun’s legal team, the delay in the lawsuit filing after the court flagged a discrepancy happened because they were updating all plaintiffs’ addresses, and the “mysterious fake aunt” was nowhere to be found. “No ID, no number, no name,” they said in a statement to YTN Star. “If even one identifier—like a phone number—is available, we can verify her identity. She’s also facing a criminal complaint, so the investigative agency will eventually identify her,” the lawyer said.
The aunt in question had teamed up with GaroSero Institute to reveal damning alleged evidence against Soo Hyun, including screenshots, Kakao messages, photos, and even handwritten letters from Sae Ron to back her point. Later, the bereaved family also supported the woman and said that she is someone they know.
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