
Top brands drop South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun after relationship controversy
CNN
Several international brands including luxury house Prada have cut ties with South Korean superstar actor Kim Soo Hyun after he became embroiled in controversy this month over the nature of his relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron.
Several international brands including luxury house Prada have cut ties with South Korean superstar actor Kim Soo Hyun after he became embroiled in controversy this month over the nature of his relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron. Kim Soo Hyun, one of the top names in the South Korean entertainment industry, has refuted allegations made earlier this month by a YouTube channel known for its political news that he had started the relationship with Kim Sae-ron, 24, when she was still a minor. The allegations prompted an online firestorm of criticism toward Kim Soo Hyun, highlighting the close scrutiny that top stars face in South Korea’s high-stakes, billion-dollar entertainment industry. His talent agency, Goldmedalist, said that while the two actors had been in a relationship, it took place when both were adults, according to the Chosun Ilbo, one of South Korea’s newspapers of record. CNN has called and emailed Goldmedalist multiple times for comment but has not received a response. Kim Sae-ron was also previously managed by Goldmedalist, but her contract was not renewed in 2022, according to Reuters.