Kim Soo Hyun is believed to have rushed to close a deal for one of his three Galleria Forêt apartments in Seoul’s Seongsu Dong on July 8. Speculation has been rife that the K-drama star did this to fund the looming lawsuits filed by former advertisers who dropped him post the Kim Sae Ron case and are now seeking millions in damages. Meanwhile, Soo Hyun’s legal team has challenged the evidence on which the advertisers have based their lawsuit, claiming that the material provided by Garo Sero is fabricated. If that turns out to be true, the advertisers might land in trouble. Hours after the report surfaced, some insiders suggested the news isn’t exactly how it’s being shown, and the sale of the apartment had actually been pre-planned.
Truth behind Kim Soo Hyun’s luxury apartment sale
According to Newsen, the recent sale went through for 8 billion KRW (around $6.1 million USD). He had originally bought it back in October 2014 for 3.02 billion KRW, making a massive 4.98 billion KRW profit over 11 years. The sale happened just days after one of the advertisers was granted a court ruling to seize one of the actor’s luxury Galleria Forêt apartments. Some thought he was cashing out to cover legal fees. One of Soo Hyun’s lawyers at the time said, “The advertising fees were already paid, but due to recent controversies, the use of the advertisements became difficult, leading to the advertisers’ claims for damages.” He added, “If Kim Soo Hyun’s reputation is restored, these lawsuits are likely to be resolved naturally.”
However, according to Allkpop, an insider aware of the situation says the deal was long planned. The buyer had already been lined up last year, and Kim’s team confirmed the sale wasn’t a rushed decision. Kim’s agency, Gold Medalist, had earlier also dismissed all claims about him going broke over lawsuits. Kim still owns two more apartments in the same building, both large units, one bought in 2013 and another in 2024. Out of the two, one is currently under provisional seizure following a 3 billion KRW claim from a medical firm and another 100 million KRW claim from a Malaysian client, reports Newsen.
Kim Soo Hyun is now neck-deep in a legal war after his reputation took a hit following Korean actor Kim Sae Ron’s tragic death. The controversy blew up when YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute and Sae Ron’s family accused him of being in a long-term relationship with her while she was still underage. Rumours linked Soo Hyun to her financial troubles. He later addressed the buzz in a press conference, confirming they did date, but made it clear it wasn’t when she was a minor. Since then, both sides have filed lawsuits and defamation complaints, and several brands have pulled away, even demanding compensation.
