After months of silence, popular South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun is back in the headlines. But this time, it is about the suspicious financial matters at his agency, Gold Medalist. This comes at a time when Kim was already going through a difficult time due to his alleged affair with actress Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor.
On September 19, a Korean media outlet raised serious questions about Gold Medalist's investment fund company, Barun No. 2 Investment Association. According to the report, the fund's headquarters is located in a nondescript building, without even a name or signboard. The question arises as to how such a small space could manage a KOSDAQ-listed company and one of Korea's biggest Hallyu stars.
Audit documents further fueled suspicion. Between 2020 and 2024, Gold Medalist paid its artists a total settlement of only 67 million won. In 2024, when Kim Soo Hyun's drama Queen of Tears became a global hit and the agency earned over 2 billion won, the artists received a mere 27 million won. In comparison, IU's agency, EDAM, and ADOR (Newsin's agency), report settlements worth billions of won each year.
Gold Medalist quickly issued a clarification amid mounting questions. The agency stated, “The association was legally registered at the stated address at the time of business registration. Given the nature of investment associations, it is practically uncommon for them to operate from physical office spaces.”
The gold medalist also claimed that they are contracted with the prominent law firm LKB & Partners for legal investigation and advice at every stage. They said, “Listed companies follow International Financial Reporting Standards (K-IFRS), while unlisted companies like ours adhere to Korean Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (K-GAAP). Therefore, comparing our accounting practices with those of listed companies is misleading. Under K-GAAP, our artist distribution fees are included in the cost of sales.”
Kim Soo Hyun was already away from the limelight due to personal controversies. Now, this new controversy involving his agency is creating further difficulties for him. Fans are constantly watching this matter, and this could deal another major blow to his career.
Kim Soo Hyun is a highly popular actor in Korea and around the world. However, over the past year, controversies surrounding his name have consistently damaged his image. He was accused of sharing a romantic relationship with Kim Sae Ron when she was underage.
