South Korean home appliance brand CUCKOO, widely recognized for its reputation in rice cookers, has initiated a legal dispute with popular actor Kim Soo Hyun, seeking nearly 2.8 billion KRW (about $2.02 million) in damages through multiple lawsuits and asset seizure requests.
Recent investigations revealed that Cuckoo Electronics, a key subsidiary of CUCKOO Holdings responsible for over 90 percent of the group’s revenue, filed a provisional seizure request on April 24. The request targeted approximately 100 million KRW (approximately $2.02 million) worth of Kim Soo Hyun’s personal assets, including bank deposits and loans. The Seoul Eastern District Court's 52nd Civil Division approved the request on May 20.
On May 2, Cuckoo Electronics intensified its legal efforts by filing a separate 850 million KRW (approximately $629,000) damages lawsuit against Kim Soo Hyun. The actor has served as CUCKOO’s exclusive model for over ten years, maintaining a strong partnership with the company. However, public backlash surrounding his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron has strained this relationship, leading to legal claims over advertising contract breaches.
On the same day, CUCKOO Electronics, CUCKOO Homesys (a rental service affiliate), and another CUCKOO Holdings subsidiary jointly filed an additional lawsuit against Kim Soo Hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist. The total amount claimed in this suit is 2.03 billion KRW (approximately $1,487,990). This case has been assigned to the 22nd Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court and is being handled separately from the 850 million KRW (approximately $629,000) claim, which is under review by the Seoul Eastern District Court’s 7th Civil Division.
CUCKOO Homesys also submitted a 50 million KRW (approximately $36,597) provisional seizure request against Gold Medalist on May 1. This request was approved by the Seoul Eastern District Court on May 27. In a related but separate case, a cosmetics company unaffiliated with CUCKOO Holdings filed a 501 million KRW (approximately $367,233) damages claim against Kim Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist on April 25.
The dispute marks a significant breakdown in the once-solid relationship between CUCKOO and Kim Soo Hyun and has developed into a complex legal entanglement involving multiple companies and substantial financial claims.
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