Kim Soo Hyun‘s recent press conference may have tugged on heartstrings, but according to legal experts and a veteran profiler, it failed to deliver on facts.
Despite Kim’s public attempt to clear his name, criticism continues to mount. Profiler Bae Sang Hoon questioned the credibility of the digital evidence Kim’s team presented—namely, a KakaoTalk message analysis conducted by a private forensics firm rather than a state-certified institution like the National Forensic Service.
“The analysis lacks objectivity,” Bae said, adding that alternative interpretations could easily be drawn. He also raised concerns about the analyst behind the report, Kim Mi Young, a former Supreme Prosecutors’ Office statement analyst. She previously mischaracterized Nth Room case perpetrator Cho Ju Bin as a “man in his 40s with a financial background”—when in reality, he was a man in his 20s with no such profile.
Attorney Lee Don Ho criticized Kim’s press conference as being too “emotionally driven” and lacking the key evidence needed to back his claims. “He insists the messages were doctored, but provided no concrete proof,” Lee said. “If he were my client, I would’ve advised a different approach.”
Potential Escalation of Damages, Disney’s Breach-of-Contract Concerns
Attorneys Lee Dong Gyu and Kang Dae Gyu offered insight into the 11 billion KRW (approx. 7.5 million USD) lawsuit Kim has filed against actress Kim Sae Ron’s family members, including her aunt, and journalist Kim Se Ui. They noted that if the case drags on, annual interest at a rate of 12% could result in over 1 billion KRW ($680,000) in interest piling up within just a year. The two lawyers also suggested that the lawsuit may be a tactical move to buy time against potential penalties from Disney, who could seek damages if Kim’s ongoing controversy affects the project Knock-Off.
They further noted that while the reported claim stands at 11 billion KRW, there’s a chance it balloons toward the rumored 180 billion KRW ($123 million) in production losses for Knock-Off. However, they emphasized that if Kim Sae Ron’s illegal actions and a direct link to the damages cannot be clearly proven—or if any negligence on Kim Soo Hyun’s part is acknowledged—then the court may ultimately rule against ordering compensation.
Another point of contention is whether Disney can pursue a breach-of-contract penalty against the actor. In general, entertainment contracts include clauses requiring actors to pay penalties if their scandals cause harm to a project during filming or promotion. However, since Kim’s controversy stems from a past romantic relationship and not from anything during Knock-Off‘s production, the lawyers explained that whether Disney can retroactively apply the clause will depend on the specific terms outlined in his contract.
>> Disney Plus Confirms Kim Soo Hyun’s ‘Knock-Off’ Is Not on Its Release Schedule
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