Why is Kim Soo Hyun being sued by rice cooker brand CUCKOO for over $2 Million? Allegations explained

Kim Soo Hyun, widely recognized as a top Hallyu star, is at the center of a growing legal dispute with CUCKOO, the South Korean home appliance brand best known for its rice cookers. The long-time endorsement relationship, which lasted over a decade, is now unraveling through a series of lawsuits and asset-related actions totaling nearly ₩2.8 billion (approximately $2.02 million).

Court records show that Cuckoo Electronics, a key revenue-generating arm under CUCKOO Holdings, submitted a provisional seizure request on April 24 targeting approximately ₩100 million of Kim’s financial assets. This was granted by the Seoul Eastern District Court’s 52nd Civil Division on May 20.

Simultaneously, the company pursued separate claims. On May 2, it filed a ₩850 million (about $629,000) damages lawsuit. That same day, CUCKOO Electronics, CUCKOO Homesys, and another CUCKOO Holdings affiliate initiated a ₩2.03 billion (approximately $1.49 million) lawsuit against Kim and his agency, Gold Medalist, now under review by the Seoul Central District Court’s 22nd Civil Division.

The tension reportedly escalated due to public scrutiny of Kim Soo Hyun’s past association with the late actress Kim Sae Ron, which allegedly impacted brand reputation. CUCKOO claims a breach in advertising agreements as the basis for legal action.

More about the lawsuit against Kim Soo Hyun

Additional legal filings include a ₩50 million provisional seizure request by CUCKOO Homesys against Gold Medalist on May 1, which the court approved on May 27.

Meanwhile, in a related but separate filing, an unaffiliated cosmetics brand lodged a ₩501 million (roughly $367,000) suit against Kim and his agency on April 25.

Further complicating matters, a medical aesthetics company, CLASSYS, filed a provisional seizure on May 8 against one of the actor’s properties in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, valued at ₩3 billion (around $2.2 million).

What began as a long-standing promotional partnership has now evolved into a complex legal scenario spanning multiple sectors and court divisions, with Kim Soo Hyun’s professional image and financial assets caught in the fray.

Meanwhile, Kim Soo Hyun continues to face serious allegations involving a romantic relationship with late actress Kim Sae Ron, dating back to when she was reportedly a minor. A YouTube channel and family insiders claimed they were involved for years, starting when she was 15 and he was in his late twenties.

These claims emerged following Sae Ron's death in February, prompting intense public scrutiny.

Gold Medalist, Kim Soo Hyun's agency, initially denied any involvement while they were minors, later acknowledging a relationship that began in summer 2019, after she turned 18, and lasted about a year. The label also countered financial allegations surrounding a 2022 DUI incident, stating they waived repayment demands.

The scandal led to defamation suits, legal battles, terminated brand partnerships with names like Prada, and delays for Kim Soo Hyun’s upcoming Disney+ series Knock‑Off. Public opinion remains sharply divided as both sides continue battling in court and the media.

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