Today, the brand Cuckoo presented its defense in court, claiming that their lawsuit against Kim Soo Hyun was based on a"breach of trust"đ¤Ł. The court was speechless, asking, "Which specific clause of the contract did Kim Soo Hyun actually violate?"#kimsoohyun@Official_CUCKOO
[1112] Attorney Ko Sangrok stated, âKim Soohyun has NEVER ONCE publicly attacked or criticized the deceasedâs family. He has not made a single hostile remark. The repeated claims that he âmanipulated the truthâ or âused power to silence othersâ are baseless.
What has really been happening is the opposite. Certain individuals, including this lawyer and some YouTube broadcasters, have been exploiting the deceasedâs tragedy for clicks and influence, recycling false narratives that were already proven wrong months ago.
All I can say is this: repeating lies does not turn them into truth. If anyone still believes thereâs ânew evidence,â they should simply present it to the police and let investigators verify it. Otherwise, continuing to make public accusations without proof is defamation, nothing more, nothing less.â
So let this be clearly stated.
From this point on, if any private materials related to the actor are distributed in any way without the actorâs consent whether or not they were previously released by Gaseyeon we will consider civil damages claims and may also pursue additional criminal action depending on the situation.
Now that the familyâs position is confirmed, the full scope of the large scale FRAUD committed by Gaseyeon against the public is exposed.
As repeated during the March 27 and May 7 press conferences, sharing or spreading any materials that may be manipulated or tampered with especially personal materials of the actor through articles, broadcasts, or YouTube may lead to further legal liability.
So all online media channels including Gaseyeon, Kwon Youngchanâs channel, and certain attorney-run YouTube channels must fully recognize the legal risks and act with the highest level of caution.
⸝
We will also send a content certified letter to attorney Bu Ji Seok today with the same message, warning him of concerns regarding further wrongdoing and secondary harm, and demanding that he cease all improper communication or interactions with Gaseyeon, Kwon Youngchan, and other online channels.
We ask all media outlets to exercise heightened caution when contacting or requesting interviews with attorney Bu Ji Seok going forward.
November 14, 2025
Legal representative of actor Kim Soohyun
Law Firm Fil
Attorney Ko Sangrok
⸝ https://t.co/VtBYl9DQVw
[Warning on Spreading False Information and Private Materials Online, and Request for Caution Regarding Attorney Bu Ji Seok]
According to attorney Bu Ji Seokâs recent statements, Ms. Lee and the bereaved family have effectively ADMITTED to wrongdoing. There is little concern with traditional media, but channels like Gaseyeon, Kwon Youngchanâs channel, and other YouTube platforms should respond with extreme caution given the legal risks.
Here is the core false claim that the accused parties conspired to spread in this case.
They alleged: âActor Kim Soohyun dated or psychologically controlled the late Kim Saeron from when she was a middle schooler under sixteen and sexually exploited her, and he pressured her to repay the seven hundred million won debt from her DUI accident, which pushed her to her death.â
And the main materials they presented to make the public believe the false claim were these.
1. Photos that Gaseyeon claimed were âproof of an underage relationshipâ such as close face photos and ski resort photos.
2. A KakaoTalk conversation from June 2016 with the line âWhen can I fall asleep in your arms.â
3. An April 13, 2018 KakaoTalk message with the line âIf you are not going to put in effort then I am not meeting you.â
But here is what attorney Bu Ji Seok stated recently in a broadcast interview and during his follow-up explanation.
1. The family said they NEVER told Kim Seui that the photos were taken when the late Kim Saeron was a minor.
2. The sender name on the June 2016 KakaoTalk chat is âUnknownâ and the only reason they ASSUMED it was actor Kim Soohyun was that âthe late actressâs sibling said so.â
3. The April 13, 2018 KakaoTalk capture is only a cropped image with no sender, no recipient, and no recipientâs reply.
4. The family made it clear that they NEVER believed or claimed that the late actress suffered because of Kim Soohyun or died because of him.
All of this matches exactly what I had previously stated with certainty. In short:
1. The photos that were called evidence of an underage relationship were all taken during a short period between December 2019 and early spring 2020 when both were adults.
2. The June 2016 KakaoTalk chat WAS NOT with actor Kim Soohyun. It was a conversation the late actress had with ANOTHER man at the time.
3. The April 2018 KakaoTalk capture is worthless material because the sender CANNOT be identified at all.
4. Since the bereaved family has now stated that the actor had NOTHING to do with the late actressâs death, the essential premise behind all the false claims has completely collapsed.
Now that the familyâs position is clear, there will likely be an ongoing dispute between the family and Kim Seui about what is true, and we expect the investigative agency to determine the facts.
But aside from that, once the position of the bereaved family the source of all information is confirmed, the core reality of this cybercrime is already exposed.
So any other nonessential personal materials related to the actor such as adult relationship photos released by Gaseyeon, postcards, letters, and the diary and letters we were forced to disclose during the open rebuttal process these were all private materials that should never have been made public without the actorâs consent.
Gaseyeon publicly released private materials without the actorâs consent, and that alone establishes civil liability. And as stated above, now that the whistleblowers Ms. Lee and the family have themselves CONFIRMED that every major allegation against the actor was FALSE, there is no basis to argue that releasing those materials had any public interest or legitimacy.
[1114]âThe late Kim Saeronâs family has effectively admitted to a crime.â
⸝ https://t.co/fUbVIVDb8s
âThe late Kim Saeronâs family has practically admitted to a crime. We will take legal action if they spread private information.â
⸝ https://t.co/nwN0akFGqY
âThe late Kim Saeronâs family has essentially admitted to a crime. The full picture is coming to light.â
⸝ https://t.co/RnDSnAJa7P
âThe late Kim Saeronâs family has basically admitted to a crime⌠we will pursue criminal charges for spreading private materials.â
⸝ https://t.co/iTkxOW7SaL
âThe late Kim Saeronâs family has effectively admitted to a crime. The truth about Gaseyeonâs scam is now exposed.â
⸝ https://t.co/stMLvIQzV4
âThe late Kim Saeronâs family has in effect admitted to a crime. The key details have been revealed.â
⸝ https://t.co/uEK2ePPCbN
âThe late Kim Saeronâs family has essentially admitted to a crime. We will pursue criminal charges for spreading private materials.â
⸝ https://t.co/yMHgUdG9z5
âLee and the late Kim Saeronâs family have effectively admitted to a crime. Gaseyeon is prohibited from spreading their posted materials.â
⸝ https://t.co/UgOaVM4D5a
[NEWS] The court asked Cuckoo Electronics to clearly explain the grounds for terminating the contract with #KimSoohyun
On the 14th, the Civil Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court held the first hearing in the lawsuit where Cuckoo Electronics, Cuckoo Homesys, and Cuckoo International Berhad (the Malaysian branch of Cuckoo Homesys) jointly demanded more than 2 billion won in damages from Kim Soohyun and his agency, Gold Medalist.
Kim Soohyun had been Cuckoo Electronicsâ exclusive model for ten years. But when allegations spread that he had dated the late Kim Saeron while she was a minor, public opinion turned sharply, and Cuckoo removed his advertisements and filed a civil lawsuit.
The court said:
âThe plaintiffs (Cuckoo Electronics) are saying the contract should be terminated because the trust between the parties has collapsed. You need to clarify whether you mean the contract can be ended simply because trust broke down, or whether you claim the breakdown happened because of something Kim Soohyun did wrong.â
âWhether the contract is being ended due to a loss of trust or due to the actorâs fault changes the extent of damages. State your position clearly.â
âSaying âthere was a controversy and from the companyâs standpoint itâs impossible to keep using him in adsâ is not, by itself, a valid reason to terminate the contract. Organize your arguments according to the actual grounds for termination.â
âWhether this allegation is true determines whether it can qualify as grounds for termination.â
The judges then asked the advertisers whether they intended to wait for the criminal investigation results before proceeding with the civil case.
Cuckoo Electronics responded:
âThe collapse of Kim Soohyunâs public image and advertisers dropping him did not happen just because of a YouTuberâs accusations. We are also arguing that damage to the trust relationship is grounds for termination, so the civil case does not have to wait for the criminal case to end.â
The court scheduled another hearing for January 16 of next year to hear more arguments from both sides.
⸝ https://t.co/xwzF8vR7IN
[1114] âI happened to call the attorney at LKB today to share updates, and since it was right after the Cuckoo Electronics hearing, I heard the details about what happened in court. The attorney said the judge ended up making every point LKB had planned to raise. Thatâs it.â
⸝
Before the LKB attorneys even brought these points up, the judge raised them on the courtâs own initiative.
In other words, the judge questioned the advertisers on exactly the issues LKB thought were weaknesses in the Cuckooâs case. That usually tells you the court already sees the same structural problems LKB intended to highlight.
Now what did I say? These brands are making utter fool out of themselves. đ
The court is not accepting their claim at face value.
Instead, the judge is asking the advertisers to:
âŞď¸Clearly explain why the contract was terminated
âŞď¸Clearly specify what part of the controversy is Kim Soo-hyunâs fault
The judge basically said:
âŞď¸A contract cannot be terminated âjust because trust is brokenâ unless there is a clear, attributable reason.
âŞď¸The controversy is still under police investigation, and nothing has been confirmed.
âŞď¸So if the advertisers are saying âKim Soo-hyun caused this loss,â they must show exactly what he did wrong.
The court refused to assume Kim Soo-hyun did anything wrong and they are spot on there. đ
#WeStandwithKimSooHyun
Kim Soo-hyunâs Legal Team: âThe Late Kim Sae-ronâs Family Has Effectively Admitted to the Crime; Distribution of Private Materials Will Face Criminal Actionâ [Full Statement]
Reporter Lee Min-ji, Newsen â Actor Kim Soo-hyunâs legal representative has issued a warning regarding the distribution of his private materials.
On November 14, Kim Soo-hyunâs attorney Ko Sang-rok of Phil Law Firm posted a lengthy statement titled âWarning Against the Online Distribution of False Information and Private Materials, and Advisory Regarding Attorney Bu Ji-seokâ on his channel.
Ko stated, âAccording to attorney Bu Ji-seokâs recent remarks in broadcast interviews and rebuttals, Mr. Lee and the (late Kim Sae-ron's) bereaved family have effectively admitted to the crime,â adding, âThe fundamental premises behind the false accusations in this case have completely collapsed.â
He continued, âNow that the stance of the bereaved familyâthe source of all informationâhas been confirmed, the full nature of this cybercrime has been effectively revealed. Therefore, all non-essential materials related to the actorâs private lifeâsuch as the adult relationship photos released by Gaseyeon, postcards and letters, and the diary and letters we were forced to disclose during open pleadingsâare private materials that should never have been made public without the actorâs consent.â
Ko warned, âFrom this point forward, if any of the actorâs private materials are distributed in any form without the actorâs consentâregardless of whether Gaseyeon has already released themâwe will pursue civil damages and, depending on the case, carefully consider additional criminal measures.â
Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun became embroiled in controversy after Gaseyeon exposed alleged private life details relating to his past relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron. Gaseyeon, along with the deceasedâs family, claimed that she had been in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun for about six years since she was a minor.
In response, Kim Soo-hyun held a tearful press conference, vehemently denying the allegations. His side countered the evidence presented by the family as âmanipulated fake evidence,â stressing that while they did date after she became an adult, there was no relationship during her minor years.
Below is attorney Ko Sang-rokâs full statement.
---
Warning Regarding the Online Distribution of False Information and Private Materials, and Advisory Regarding Attorney Bu Ji-seok
According to attorney Bu Ji-seokâs recent remarks, Mr. Lee and the bereaved family have effectively admitted to the crime.
While legacy media poses less concern, we respectfully request that Gaseyeon, the Kwon Young-chan channel, and other YouTube and online platforms respond with particular caution, taking into account the legal risks.
The core false claims spread collaboratively by the accused in this case are as follows:
âActor Kim Soo-hyun dated or psychologically dominated the late Kim Sae-ron from when she was a middle school student (under 16), sexually exploited her, and pressured her to pay the 700 million won debt stemming from her DUI accident, pushing her to her death.â
To make the public believe these falsehoods, they presented the following key materials:
1. Photos claimed by Gaseyeon to be âevidence of a minor relationshipâ (face-to-face photo, ski resort photo, etc.)
2. June 2016 KakaoTalk conversation (âWhen can I fall asleep in your arms?â)
3. April 13, 2018 KakaoTalk conversation (âIf youâre not going to try, I wonât see you anymore.â)
âĄď¸ https://t.co/6y7RFDoxfz
#WeStandWithKimSooHyun
Kim Soo-hyunâs Side: âMr. Lee and the Late Kim Sae-ronâs Family Have Effectively Admitted to the Crime⌠Garo Sero Institute (Gaseyeon) Prohibited From Distributing Released Materialsâ
On the 14th, actor Kim Soo-hyunâs legal representative, attorney Ko Sang-rok (from Phil Law Firm), stated:
âFollowing the confirmation of the bereaved familyâs recent position, the full truth of the nationwide fraud committed by Gaseyeon has now been revealed,â adding that they intend to take legal action âif any Kim Soo-hyunârelated materials released by Gaseyeon are distributed online.â
Attorney Ko posted a notice on his YouTube channel titled âWarning Against the Online Distribution of False Information and Private Materials, and Advisory Regarding Attorney Bu Ji-seok.â
Ko stated, âAccording to the recent position of attorney Bu Ji-seok (representing the late Kim Sae-ron), Mr. Lee and the bereaved family have effectively admitted to the crime.â
He continued, âThe bereaved familyâs representative, attorney Bu Ji-seok, confirmed the following during recent broadcast interviews and rebuttal processes,â explaining:
* The family testified that they never told Kim Se-eui that the photos were taken when she was a minor.
* The sender name of the June 2016 KakaoTalk message was âUnknown,â and the only reason they assumed it was actor Kim Soo-hyun was because âthe deceasedâs younger sister said so.â
* The April 13, 2018 KakaoTalk messages exist only as cropped screenshots, with no identifiable sender, recipient, or replies.
* The family stated they have never believed or claimed that âthe deceased died because she suffered due to actor Kim Soo-hyun.â
He emphasized: âThis matches exactly what I have previously stated.â
Ko further explained:
* The photos claimed to be âevidence of a minor relationshipâ were all taken between December 2019 and early spring 2020, during a short period when they were adults in a consensual relationship.
* The June 2016 KakaoTalk messages were not with actor Kim Soo-hyun, but with another man the deceased was talking to at the time.
* The April 2018 KakaoTalk screenshot is worthless, as the sender cannot even be identified.
* Since the family has now clarified that the actor has no connection to the deceasedâs death, the fundamental premise behind all the false accusations has completely collapsed.
He added, âNow that the familyâs position is clearly established, it is likely that a truth battle will continue between the family and Kim Se-eui, and we expect investigative authorities to determine the facts.â
Ko also stated, âSeparately from this, once the position of the bereaved familyâthe source of all informationâis confirmed, the core of this cybercrime has effectively been exposed.â
He stressed that all private materials related to the actor, including:
* adult relationship photos released by Gaseyeon,
* postcards and letters,
* and the diary and letters that were unavoidably submitted during open pleadings,
are private materials that should never have been disclosed without the actorâs consent.
He added, âGaseyeon broadcasting such private materials without permission constitutes a civil illegal act in itself.â
Ko concluded:
âNow that the key allegations raised by Gaseyeon have been proven false by the information sources themselves (Mr. Lee and the bereaved family), they can no longer argue that the disclosures served a public-interest purpose.â
âFrom this point forward, if any of the actorâs private materialsâwhether already released by Gaseyeon or notâare distributed in any form without the actorâs consent, we will pursue civil damages and, depending on the case, consider additional criminal measures.â
âĄď¸ https://t.co/OBZ8nwD7R4
#WeStandWithKimSooHyun
[Statement Regarding the Progress of Actor #KimSoohyunâs Case and Claims Made by the Bereaved Familyâs Attorney, Bujiseok]
1. There are signs that the investigation team is moving toward faster handling of the case. Itâs possible that their next steps are based on the National Forensic Serviceâs examination results regarding the alleged voice recording of the deceased. Regardless of my previous criticisms, I understand that confidentiality is necessary in criminal investigations. I trust that the police will make the right judgment and deliver a fair conclusion.
The following are statements Iâve heard through broadcast reports about the bereaved familyâs lawyer, Bujiseok.
2. There are no âthousands of photos.â Such photos cannot possibly exist, which should be obvious. Lawyer Bujiseok reportedly said, âI donât know why Gaseyeon (the YouTube channel) said that.â But for him to say that now is strange, he had plenty of time to confront Kim Seui and ask, âWhy did you say such a thing?â back then.
After the joint press conference on March 27, Kim Seui immediately claimed that thousands of photos existed. Later, on May 7, Bujiseok held another joint press conference with him, where instead of showing âthousands of photos,â they played recordings allegedly provided by an informant from New Jersey, recordings involving the deceased, lawyer Kang Yongseok, journalist Lee Jinho, an âAmerican wife English test,â and lawyer Ko Sangrok, and claimed those were genuine.
3. Regarding the photos Gaseyeon claimed showed the deceased during her teenage years, including ski resort pictures, lawyer Bujiseok said, âI never told Gaseyeon that those were photos from the deceasedâs underage years.â In other words, again, he claims he doesnât know why Kim Seui made such statements. Yet after March 10, when Kim Seui repeatedly made those claims in excess, Bujiseok remained silent, continued to provide him with additional material, and then jointly played the aforementioned recordings with him at the May 7 press conference.
4. Regarding the photo taken around late February 2020, showing actor Kim Soohyun and the deceased with their faces close together, Bujiseok said, âThat photo was already released before I was appointed as the familyâs legal representative, so I have nothing to say about it.â Iâm not entirely sure what that means, but it clearly suggests that he acknowledges the photo was taken around late February 2020. The bereaved family believes the photo was taken when the deceased was a high school sophomore, but as Iâve said several times, that simply doesnât make sense.
5. The sender name for the June 2016 KakaoTalk message (âWhen can I fall asleep in your arms?â) is listed as âUnknown.â The claim that this message came from actor Kim Soohyun is based on what the deceasedâs younger sister allegedly said, but when you hear her reasoning, itâs absurd to the point of disbelief. The claim goes like this: a first-year high school girl exchanged KakaoTalk messages with a man, saying things like âWhen can I fall asleep in your arms?â, then showed those messages to her younger middle-school-age sister, telling her who that man was and what he was like. And the younger sister supposedly believed it. That doesnât make sense. Even more strange is the idea that a younger sibling could recall such an unnatural conversation word for word, nine years later, from when she was in middle school or younger, and give a detailed statement about it.
MF Kim Se-ui Refuses Police Summons today; âGo ahead and sentence me to death!â
Kim Se-ui, who refused a police summons today, said this just moments ago on a livestream.
âGo ahead and sentence me to death. Try chopping my head off with a guillotine. Iâm going to appeal anyway~ Heâs not even human.â
#WeStandWithKimSoohyun