Kim Seui’s Apgujeong Apartment Enters Auction Over Unpaid 120 Million Won Legal Fees Amid Kim Soo Hyun Defamation Charges

Originally Acquired by the Late Youngsoo Kim, Former MBC President
Inherited Equally by Seui Kim and His Elder Sister in 2024

Seui Kim, CEO of Garoseoro Research Institute, owns half the shares in an apartment in Apgujeong that has now entered the compulsory auction process.

Se-yi Kim, former MBC reporter. Yonhap News.

According to the legal community on September 23, the Seoul Central District Court decided on September 17 to commence compulsory auction proceedings on the Hanyang Apartment in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, registered under Kim’s name.

The apartment was originally acquired in 1986 by Kim’s father, the late Youngsoo Kim, former president of MBC. After Kim’s passing in August 2024, it was reported that ownership was inherited equally by Seui Kim and his elder sister.

This auction process was initiated by attorney Soyeon Kim, who claimed that she had not received approximately 120 million won in attorney's fees and other payments from Kim. She reportedly based her application for compulsory execution on a payment order obtained from the Daejeon District Court.

However, several security interests and seizure orders have already been registered against the property. These include a mortgage held by Shinhan Bank, a seizure due to national tax arrears by Gangnam Tax Office, and a provisional seizure order set against Kim’s stake by Gold Medalist Co., the management agency of actor Kim Soo Hyun.

Gold Medalist Co., the management agency of actor Kim Soo Hyun, also filed for damages last June, alleging that Kim and others had spread false information regarding Kim Soo Hyun’s dating timeline with the late Kim Sae Ron. In connection with this, Gold Medalist Co. obtained a provisional seizure order worth 2 billion won on a 50% stake in the Apgujeong apartment owned by Kim.

The Criminal Proceeds Recovery Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office concluded that criminal proceeds from Kim’s defamation against Kim Soo Hyun amounted to at least 54.4 million won in sponsorship funds and at least 115 million won in advertising revenue—a total of 169.4 million won. Accordingly, they have completed the process of registering a provisional attachment on land owned by Kim.

Subsequently, the Seoul Central District Court granted provisional seizure orders of 2 billion won respectively on the Apgujeong Hanyang 4th complex and the Seocho Byuksan Blooming Apartment, bringing the total reported amount of creditor claims entered in the property register to approximately 8.07 billion won.

However, the amounts recorded in the register, such as the maximum claim amount or amounts under seizure, do not necessarily correspond to the actual remaining debt. The auction application was filed on September 14, and the auction process is still in its early stages, with the appraisal value, minimum sale price, and sale date yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, Kim is currently under detention and on trial on charges including defamation against Kim Soo Hyun.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.