South Korean superstar Kim Soo Hyun's agency, GOLDMEDALIST, claimed on Tuesday that the actor was being targetted and sexually harassed online ever since he got embroiled in the Kim Sae-ron dating scandal. The actor, via his agency, has now initiated legal action against those harassing him online.
The statement released by GOLDMEDALIST, which has been accessed by Soompi, read, "Recently, malicious posts, comments, and false information targeting our artist, Kim Soo Hyun, have been indiscriminately posted and circulated online. In particular, baseless speculative content and unverified claims have been continuously and repeatedly shared, leading the public to form misconceptions and damaging the artist’s reputation."
"Malicious slander, the circulation of false information, personal attacks, and sexual harassment, which are rampant on online communities and social media, are criminal acts that should not be taken lightly. Based on active reports from fans regarding malicious actions and our own internal monitoring, we submitted a legal complaint to investigative authorities on April 14 for charges of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act and for insult under the Criminal Act," it added.
The agency also called out "cyber wreckers" and accused them of circulating fake news and "cyberbullying-inducing videos" against Soo Hyun. "We will continue to file additional complaints against malicious posts that defame our artist’s reputation," the statement mentioned.
Kim Soo Hyun found himself at the centre of a major scandal after late actress Kim Sae-ron's family accused him of dating the deceased when she was a minor. The family claimed that Soo Hyun harassed, groomed and manipulated a young Sae-ron, and left her heartbroken when he achieved stardom.
In a sensational press conference a few days ago, Soo Hyun admitted that he did date Sae-ron for a year, but not when she was a minor, but when she was officially of legal age. He also accused the late actress' family of making false claims and spreading fake screenshots of chats, and promised his fans that he will prove his innocence.
