News outlets warned against misusing Kim Soo Hyun’s name in sensitive case

The Korea Press Ethics Commission (KPEC) has issued a formal warning to over 25 media outlets in South Korea, cautioning them against the irresponsible use of actor Kim Soo Hyun’s name in ongoing news coverage related to a sensitive case.

The warning follows rising public discourse around a petition known as the “Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Act”, which calls for raising the age of statutory rape from 16 to 19.

According to the KPEC, multiple reports have carelessly cited Kim Soo Hyun’s name in connection with unverified allegations about a past relationship with late actress Kim Sae Ron, who was reportedly a minor at the time. Though there is no legal verdict or confirmed evidence linking the actor directly to the petition’s accusations, several outlets have been using his full name in headlines and stories, which the commission says could imply guilt and mislead the public.

The Commission stressed that the media’s current framing may lead to public misunderstanding and risk defamation. One example cited in the report was a headline reading, “Kim Soo Hyun’s grooming sexual crime against Kim Sae Ron,” which was flagged as misleading and harmful. The KPEC warned that using such titles not only undermines due process but also violates journalistic ethics by presenting one-sided or unverified claims as fact.