When Kim Soo-hyun’s Queen of Tears became one of Korea’s highest-rated K-dramas in 2024, he looked untouchable. Less than a year later, his own agency confirmed a relationship, multiple brands cut ties within weeks, and fellow celebrities began publicly unfollowing him on social media. The speed of the reversal has been remarkable — and the fallout is still unfolding.

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Born: February 16, 1988 · Height: 180 cm · Instagram Followers: 18.3M · Baeksang Awards: 5 · Grand Bell Awards: 2

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Prada terminated Kim Soo-hyun’s contract on March 14, 2025 (Koreaboo)
  • Gold Medalist confirmed the pair dated from summer 2019 to fall 2020 (Inquirer)
  • Ahn Bo-hyun unfollowed on April 4, 2025, clearing his entire following list (Times of India)
2What’s unclear
  • Whether the relationship began when Kim Sae-ron was a minor
  • Exact status of ongoing legal disputes
  • Whether additional celebrities plan to distance themselves
  • Total financial impact on Gold Medalist
3Timeline signal
  • May 2022: Kim Sae-ron DUI incident
  • March 10, 2025: Aunt’s interview sparked public escalation
  • March 14, 2025: Prada cut ties
  • April 4, 2025: Ahn Bo-hyun unfollowed
4What’s next
  • Gold Medalist requested a meeting with Kim Sae-ron’s mother on March 15, 2025
  • Tous les Jours considering contract non-renewal at year-end 2025
  • Additional brand decisions expected as fan pressure continues
Category Details
Full Name Kim Soo-hyun (Korean: )
Birthdate February 16, 1988
Birthplace South Korea
Height 180 cm
Instagram soohyun_k216
Notable Works Queen of Tears, Crash Landing on You
DUI Damages Paid 700 million KRW (May 2022)
Prada Termination March 14, 2025

What happened to Kim Soo Hyun?

The controversy traces back years before the public learned about it. In May 2022, Kim Sae-ron was involved in a drunk driving incident that caused property damage. Gold Medalist, the agency representing both her and Kim Soo-hyun, covered approximately 700 million KRW in damages — a figure that would later become central to the dispute (Filmfare).

Kim Sae Ron controversy details

What ignited the 2025 firestorm began with an interview. On March 10, 2025, a woman claiming to be Kim Sae-ron’s aunt spoke to the Garosero Research Institute, alleging the pair began dating in 2015 or 2016 when she was 15 and Kim Soo-hyun was 27 (Inquirer). The agency’s denials the following day did not quiet the controversy.

Gold Medalist officially confirmed on March 14, 2025, that the pair dated from summer 2019 to fall 2020 — after she reached adulthood — and attributed the early breakup to Kim Soo-hyun’s psychological instability. The agency also confirmed it had paid Kim Sae-ron’s remaining debt post-DUI (Inquirer). Gold Medalist requested a meeting with Kim Sae-ron’s mother on March 15, 2025, seeking to resolve the dispute.

Why this matters

The agency’s March 14 confirmation came just hours after Prada terminated its contract — creating a cascade of events that proved impossible for Gold Medalist to manage through silence alone.

Timeline of events

  • May 2022: Kim Sae-ron involved in DUI incident causing property damage; Gold Medalist covers 700 million KRW in damages
  • Summer 2019 – Fall 2020: Relationship period confirmed by Gold Medalist
  • March 19, 2024: Kim Sae-ron reportedly texted Kim Soo-hyun pleading for more time to repay debt
  • March 10, 2025: Alleged aunt interview claims underage relationship
  • March 11, 2025: Gold Medalist denies allegations
  • March 12, 2025: Actress Seo Ye-ji denies any affair with Kim Soo-hyun, saying “I wish this would stop now. I have no relationship with him.”
  • March 14, 2025: Gold Medalist confirms relationship 2019–2020; Prada terminates contract
  • April 4, 2025: Ahn Bo-hyun unfollows Kim Soo-hyun

What celebrities unfollowed Kim Soo Hyun?

The celebrity response to the scandal has been swift and visible. Seol In-ah was among the first, unfollowing both Kim Soo-hyun and Gold Medalist in March 2025 (NDTV). Her position was notable because she shares the same agency — a signal that even internal company relationships were not protective.

Ahn Bo Hyun joins list

Actor Ahn Bo-hyun unfollowed Kim Soo-hyun on or around April 4, 2025, going so far as to clear his entire following list entirely. The action was widely interpreted as a deliberate break from association (Times of India).

Im Si-wan similarly unfollowed, leaving only his own agency in his following list — a pattern that industry observers read as a calculated distancing move.

Growing list of celebs

Beyond those confirmed, multiple celebrities are reportedly rumored to have unfollowed, including Cho Sei-ho, Lee Soo-hyuk, Dino, Ren Shi-wan, Cha Seung-won, and Hwang Kwang-hee. Reports also surfaced of celebrity distancing spreading to Chinese social media platforms (Times of India).

The catch

Celebrity unfollowing carries particular weight in Korean entertainment because social connections influence casting decisions, sponsorship invitations, and industry standing. Each unfollow signals to brands and production companies that association with Kim Soo-hyun carries reputational risk.

Did Prada cut ties with Kim Soo Hyun?

Yes, definitively. Prada officially terminated its collaboration with Kim Soo-hyun on March 14, 2025, issuing a statement that directly addressed the severity of the allegations (Koreaboo).

The brand’s statement read: “After considering the severity of the issue, our collaboration with Kim Soo Hyun has been mutually concluded.” The explicit reference to “severity” signaled that the controversy had moved beyond entertainment gossip into brand-risk territory.

Several brands including Prada

Prada was not alone. Multiple brands ended their association with Kim Soo-hyun within the same timeframe. Koreaboo reported that Dinto, Homeplus, and Eider also cut ties (Inquirer). Tous les Jours deleted advertisements featuring Kim Soo-hyun and was reportedly considering not renewing his contract when it expires at the end of 2025.

Kim Soo-hyun had previously modeled for Tous les Jours from 2012 to 2015, returning for a second campaign in September 2024 — before the scandal erupted.

The trade-off

For luxury brands like Prada, brand perception among younger demographics is paramount. The decision to terminate within a single day of escalation reflects how quickly entertainment controversies can threaten carefully curated brand images — and how little patience brands have for ambiguity.

Is Kim Soo Hyun in a relationship?

Kim Soo-hyun’s current relationship status is not publicly confirmed. His agency’s official statement on March 14, 2025, only addressed the 2019–2020 period and did not specify his current standing.

Relationship status: Married or single?

There is no verified information about marriage. Searches for “Kim Soo-hyun wife” have increased since the scandal, but no credible reports have confirmed any current relationship. The public record shows he remains one of Korea’s most eligible leading men — with no confirmed partner as of this writing.

Rumors and current status

The March 2024 deleted photo and text message leak have not been officially explained. Gold Medalist’s statement focused solely on the confirmed timeline of 2019–2020 and did not address why Kim Sae-ron would have posted a photo in March 2024 if the relationship had ended years earlier.

What to watch

The discrepancy between Gold Medalist’s confirmed timeline and Kim Sae-ron’s March 2024 actions may surface in future statements or legal filings. Whether the agency or the actress provide further clarification could shape how the narrative develops.

Is Kim Soo Hyun losing popularity?

The brand exodus suggests a measurable commercial impact. Multiple sponsors cutting ties within weeks — including high-profile international brands — indicates that marketing departments assessed the controversy as a liability risk worth avoiding.

Impact on career and endorsements

Five brands terminating or reconsidering contracts in rapid succession represents a significant reversal for an actor who had been a sought-after endorser for over a decade. The Tous les Jours decision is particularly notable because the relationship dated back to 2012 — suggesting even long-standing partnerships carry expiration dates when controversy strikes.

Film releases and K-drama projects may face similar pressure. Production companies weighing casting decisions will consider not only audience reception but also sponsor relations — many of which include moral clause provisions triggered by celebrity scandals.

Highest paid actor status

Kim Soo-hyun has been ranked among Korea’s highest-paid actors, but the brand terminations suggest his commercial value has taken a direct hit. Without confirmed salary figures — which remain private in Korean entertainment — the exact financial impact is difficult to quantify, but the direction is clear.

Bottom line: Kim Soo-hyun’s fall from Queen of Tears peak has been swift and visible. Brands fled within days of Prada’s lead, and celebrities followed with public unfollows. For now, the confirmed relationship ended in 2020 — but the unresolved debt dispute, the March 2024 photo, and the aunt’s claims suggest the story is not fully settled. Korean entertainment fans and international audiences alike will be watching whether he can rebuild his commercial standing before his next project announcement.

“We would like to inform you that after considering the severity of the issue, our collaboration with Kim Soo Hyun has been mutually concluded.”

— Prada, Brand

“I wish this would stop now. I have no relationship with him. I don’t even know why I have to clarify this, but today I’m feeling very frustrated.”

— Seo Ye-ji, Actress

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The Kim Sae-ron controversy has sparked widespread fallout, with celebrities unfollowing Kim Soo-hyun and brands like Prada cutting ties.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the latest on Kim Soo-hyun’s brand deals?

Multiple brands terminated contracts in March 2025. Prada ended the collaboration on March 14, citing the severity of the allegations. Dinto, Homeplus, and Eider also cut ties. Tous les Jours deleted Kim Soo-hyun ads and is reportedly reconsidering contract renewal.

Why did celebrities unfollow Kim Soo-hyun?

Celebrities appear to be distancing themselves over concerns about association with the controversy. Seol In-ah unfollowed first in March 2025, followed by Ahn Bo-hyun in March 2025 and Im Si-wan. Reports suggest additional celebrities have done the same, with the trend also spreading to Chinese social media platforms.

What is Kim Soo-hyun’s net worth?

Kim Soo-hyun’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. As one of Korea’s most awarded actors — with five Baeksang Awards and two Grand Bell Awards — he has commanded premium fees for both acting projects and brand endorsements. The recent brand terminations will likely affect his commercial income going forward.

Has Kim Soo-hyun confirmed any relationship?

Gold Medalist confirmed on March 14, 2025, that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron from summer 2019 to fall 2020, after she reached legal adulthood. The agency attributed the early breakup to Kim Soo-hyun’s psychological instability. His current relationship status remains unconfirmed.

What K-dramas made Kim Soo-hyun famous?

Kim Soo-hyun has starred in multiple hit K-dramas including Queen of Tears (2024), which achieved record ratings in Korea. Other notable works include My Love from the Star, The Moon Embracing the Sun, and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. He is also known for films including Secretly Greatly.

Who is Kim Sae-ron in relation to Kim Soo-hyun?

Kim Sae-ron was a fellow actress represented by Gold Medalist. The two were confirmed to have dated from summer 2019 to fall 2020. The controversy that emerged involved allegations about when the relationship began and a debt dispute between Gold Medalist and her family.

Is Kim Soo-hyun the highest paid Korean actor?

Kim Soo-hyun ranks among Korea’s top-paid actors, though verified salary rankings are not publicly available. His five Baeksang Awards — Korea’s most prestigious acting recognition — position him at the highest tier of the industry. Whether he holds the number-one spot specifically is unconfirmed.