Seo Yeji "Returns 250 Million Won Model Fee Due to Trust Issues, Denies School Violence Allegations"

Agency Statement on Compensation Judgment

Actor Seo Yea-ji's side has expressed their position regarding the damages ruling related to her advertising model contract.

Seo Yea-ji's agency, Gold Medalist, released a statement on the 16th saying, "Gold Medalist and Seo Yea-ji have confirmed that the allegations of school violence and other accusations raised against actor Seo Yea-ji in the lawsuit with Yuhan Health Life were one-sided suspicions that have not been proven true."

Seo Yea-ji Photo by tvN

They added, "The ruling only ordered the partial return of the model fee according to the contract because the advertiser's trust was broken due to the mere raising of the suspicions."

The agency stated, "The allegations against Seo Yea-ji are not true, and now that these matters have been clarified through the ruling, we ask that baseless allegations and indiscriminate criticism against actor Seo Yea-ji be refrained from."

Seo Yea-ji signed a nutritional supplement model contract with Yuhan Health Life in July 2020 and received 450 million KRW as a model fee in August. In April 2021, claims surfaced that she had gaslighted her ex-boyfriend, actor Kim Jung-hyun, and allegations regarding school violence and academic background were also raised. Following the emergence of staff bullying controversies, several brands that had contracts with her withdrew their advertisements.

At the time, the agency denied all related allegations. However, as the controversy continued, Seo Yea-ji halted her activities. Yuhan Health Life filed a lawsuit against Seo Yea-ji and her agency, claiming that she violated a clause stating that during the contract period, as a public figure, she must not engage in conduct that damages the advertiser's product or corporate image or reduces advertising effectiveness, and sought model fees, penalties, and damages.

According to legal circles, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 25 (Presiding Judge Song Seung-woo) recognized only the responsibility to return fees due to contract termination in the lawsuit filed by Yuhan Health Life against Seo Yea-ji and her agency, ruling that "the agency must pay 225 million KRW of the model fee paid by Yuhan Health Life." This is based on the contract clause stating, "If the advertisement broadcast or publication is canceled after the model fee has been paid, the agency shall return 50% of the model fee in cash."

The contract specified, "The advertising model must not be charged or admit to offenses such as drunk driving, hit-and-run, assault, school violence, or drug use, or engage in conduct that damages their dignity as a public figure."

The court ruled, "The allegations such as school violence and gaslighting are all from before the contract period," and judged that Seo Yea-ji did not violate the contract simply because the allegations were raised. It also found that the statement released by Gold Medalist to clarify the allegations related to Seo Yea-ji was not a breach of contract.

Seo Yea-ji made her comeback with the tvN drama 'Eve,' which aired in February last year.