Actor Kim Soo-hyun is facing increasing allegations of having dated the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. As the controversy grows, companies are beginning to sever ties with him.
Recently, a post titled “A Small Business Owner’s Tears” appeared on an online community. The post described how an advertisement featuring Kim Soo-hyun was flipped over at a restaurant specializing in shabu-shabu, seemingly reflecting the franchise owners’ discomfort following the allegations.
It further mentioned, “Franchise owners are shedding tears after spending a lot of money to hire him as a model,” and noted the inconvenience faced by both customers and owners when the advertisements are flipped over, as important information like broth options are listed on the front.
Netizen reactions to the situation were mixed. Some expressed annoyance, commenting, “It’s truly a nuisance,” “Can’t they get a refund for the penalty?” and “It may be awkward, but flipping it is the right thing.” Others downplayed the issue, saying, “Just eat and ignore it,” “Looking at a face doesn’t change the taste,” and “People are overreacting.”
Currently, several companies in South Korea, including Prada, Shinhan Bank, Homeplus, Tous Les Jours, Dinto, Shabu All Day, and Eider, have begun distancing themselves from Kim Soo-hyun.
On the other hand, the move to cut ties with him is spreading more rapidly overseas than domestically. Following the controversy, videos quickly surfaced showing overseas outlets removing posters and standees featuring Kim Soo-hyun.
One video showed a four-photo booth taking down a poster of him, while another presumed to be from Thailand depicted a standee of him being promptly discarded.
Not only in Thailand, but fan cafes in China are also closing, and critical posts are increasing, indicating a growing trend of fans distancing themselves from him.
Upon seeing this, netizens shared opinions like, “We should do the same in our country,” “Because of idol culture, awareness of grooming crimes seems low,” and “Other companies should quickly sever ties as well.”