Kim Soo Hyun’s luxury apartment seized by Classys over unpaid penalty fee amid Kim Sae Ron dating scandal

Kim Soo Hyun has suffered a major blow after the Seoul court ordered the seizure of his luxury apartment. According to Korean media reports, the Queen of Tears actor failed to pay the penalty fees owed to the skincare brand Classys. The company had terminated their endorsement deal with Kim Soo Hyun following the fallout from his alleged underage dating scandal involving the late actress Kim Sae Ron.

Kim Soo Hyun’s luxury apartment seized after penalty fallout

One of Kim Soo Hyun’s luxury apartments in the upscale Galleria Forêt complex, Seoul, has officially been seized by skincare company Classys, following his failure to repay 3.00 billion KRW (approx. 2.19 million USD) in penalty fees.

Galleria Forêt complex. Image Credit: Koreaboo

According to a legal statement from Kim’s team, the seizure order was filed on May 8 and approved by the Seoul Eastern District Court on May 20. The unit in question was one of three apartments the actor purchased in the high-end Hannam-dong area between 2013 and 2014.

Penalty tied to scandal involving Kim Sae Ron

The massive penalty stems from the fallout of Kim Soo Hyun’s dating scandal with Kim Sae Ron that was exposed by Garosero one month after her death. Citing her family sources, the YouTube channel alleged that Kim Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor, an allegation that he has vehemently denied.

Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron| Credit: X

Classys and other brands dropped Kim Soo Hyun following backlash over Garosero's allegations. The financial blow included broken endorsement contracts and advertiser withdrawals, resulting in the actor being asked to pay back hefty penalties, including those imposed by Classys.

Kim Soo Hyun's legal team claims the seizure is unjustified

Kim Soo Hyun’s legal counsel has responded, calling Classys’ actions “unjustified” and arguing that the actor is being scapegoated. They emphasized that Kim is a victim of what they describe as malicious media attacks by the Garosero and its head, Kim Se Ui. The team stated that advertisers and partners are suffering financially but insisted the true cause lies in the “fabricated and exaggerated” claims spread by GSI rather than Kim’s own actions.

Garo Sero’s Kim Se Ui also faces property seizure

Interestingly, this comes just a day after Kim Se Ui himself faced similar legal trouble. Two of Kim Se Ui’s personal apartments were recently seized by courts after he failed to pay damages in defamation lawsuits filed by Kim Soo Hyun.

What’s next for Kim Soo Hyun?

For now, Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team appears prepared to challenge Classys’ actions in court. As this tangled scandal continues to unfold, speculations that the actor is going through a financial setback have reignited.

Meanwhile, his professional life has also taken a backseat, as Disney+ has paused the release of his upcoming K-drama Knock Off.

For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.