Amid allegations that actor Kim Soo-hyun dated the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor, there is growing interest in whether he will attend an event in Taiwan.
On the 19th, Taiwan's ET Today reported that "Kim Soo-hyun is facing a cancellation crisis for his appearance at the cherry blossom festival event organized by 7-Eleven in Kaohsiung starting on the 30th."
Kim Soo-hyun is scheduled to perform for about 40 minutes on the last day of the festival, the 30th. Kim Soo-hyun's event grant is $400,000 (approximately 580 million won), but it is reported that the penalty for not attending could amount to 30 million Taiwanese dollars (approximately 1.32 billion won).
The local 7-Eleven planned to hold a meeting and fan meeting with Kim Soo-hyun. The company has already drawn and announced 200 attendees for the fan meeting.
A brand representative noted, "We are currently proceeding with the event as per the contract," adding, "If there are any changes, we will respond promptly and handle it while considering consumer rights."
Since the 19th, three types of fresh products, coffee mugs, and cup sleeves featuring Kim Soo-hyun's photo have been sold at Taiwan's 7-Eleven stores, and it was expected that folders and photo cards would also be provided. However, it was reported that those products were not available in stores on the day.
Advertising withdrawal for Kim Soo-hyun is also ongoing. According to the Hong Kong Sing Tao Daily on the 20th, Cuckoo Electronics China announced through its official Weibo (the Chinese version of X) account on the 18th that it would completely cease promotional activities featuring Kim Soo-hyun.
Cuckoo removed photos of Kim Soo-hyun as a model from all official platforms, including WeChat, Weibo, and its website. They also decided to halt all planned marketing initiatives.
The company stated, "As a home appliance company deeply rooted in the Chinese market for over 20 years, we always prioritize social responsibility and consumer rights," adding that "this decision is a swift response based on market feedback and aims to firmly uphold brand values."
Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the 16th of last month. Subsequently, on the 10th, the YouTube channel "Garosero Research Institute" (Gaseyeon) cited a call with Kim Sae-ron's family, claiming that Kim Soo-hyun had dated Kim Sae-ron for six years when she was 15 years old in 2015. Furthermore, it was claimed that after Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, paid the penalty of 700 million won that Kim Sae-ron owed to the production company of the drama "Hunting Dogs," they sent a letter of notification stating they would take legal action if repayment was not made.
Gold Medalist, the agency of Kim Soo-hyun, claimed regarding the allegation of dating minor Kim Sae-ron that they dated from the summer of 2019, after Kim Sae-ron became an adult, until the autumn of 2020.