Kim Soo-hyun’s Lawsuit Against Kim Sae-ron’s Family Delayed Over Court Fee Issues

Actor Kim Soo-hyun's side has failed to pay the necessary court fees on time in the damages lawsuit filed against the late Kim Sae-ron's family and Kim Se-eui, the head of the Garosero Research Institute. The estimated court fee Kim’s side was required to pay amounts to about 38 million KRW (approximately $26,000 USD).

According to a News1 report on the 17th, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Agreement Division 14 (presided by Judge Jung Ha-jung) issued an order on April 2 for Kim's side to correct deficiencies in the lawsuit by paying the appropriate stamp and delivery fees. “Correction” here refers to fixing errors or omissions in legal documents.

While Kim Soo-hyun’s side initially announced plans to file a damages claim worth 12 billion KRW, the amount listed in the court filing was 11 billion KRW. Consequently, the court instructed them to correct this discrepancy and pay fees based on the 12 billion KRW figure.

The stamp fee, a legal cost proportional to the claim amount, and the delivery fee, which covers postage, are estimated to total about 38 million KRW due to the large claim amount.

However, it was revealed that Kim’s side submitted a request to extend the deadline for fee payment just the day before the deadline. This suggests an attempt to delay the payment.

The extension request was submitted on the 16th, likely the final day allowed for correction. Typically, plaintiffs must complete corrections within seven days of receiving the official court notice. This date essentially marked the last chance to keep the lawsuit active. Missing the deadline could result in the case being dismissed.

Previously, Kim’s side took seven days to receive the correction notice, which was issued on the 2nd but delivered on the 10th at midnight. Then, it took another seven days to submit the extension request, which has prevented the case from moving into the substantive hearing phase.

Some in legal circles warn that if this situation continues, the lawsuit could be dismissed. Under Article 254 of the Civil Procedure Act, if a plaintiff does not correct deficiencies within the court’s deadline, the judge must dismiss the case on the grounds that it does not meet legal requirements.

A similar case occurred when former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun's lawsuit against lawmaker Choo Mi-ae was dismissed due to non-payment of court fees.

Speculation is growing over why Kim’s side missed the deadline. Some suggest it may be a strategic decision—not merely a delay, but a calculated move to gain an upper hand during litigation, possibly to assess the opposing side’s response or allow time for further legal review.

Others believe it could be a reassessment of the lawsuit’s merit. After filing the claim, Kim’s side may be reevaluating the potential benefits or likelihood of winning and has held off on payment accordingly.

Financial difficulties might also be a factor. Kim Soo-hyun’s agency could be struggling with liquidity issues, making it difficult to secure the required funds at this time.

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