Actor Kim Bu-sun has been drawn into a lawsuit after receiving money from an acquaintance over an extended period. The acquaintance's surviving family members say the money was a loan that must be repaid, while Kim insists it was given as financial support with no obligation to return it. Her home has also been seized as part of the legal dispute.
According to legal sources Tuesday, Kim has been sued by the family of a deceased acquaintance, identified only as A, in a claim seeking repayment of borrowed funds. The case is being heard at the Seoul Eastern District Court.
A's family said A had sent Kim a total of about 200 million won ($141,000) in multiple transfers between 2013 and 2025.
Kim acknowledged receiving 3 million won from A each month on a regular basis, as well as additional payments on holidays and her birthday, but said the money constituted free financial support and did not need to be repaid.
She also admitted to separately borrowing 80 million won from A, saying she had repaid 10 million won of that amount, leaving an outstanding debt of 70 million won.
Kim's position is that, despite her close relationship with A, loans and support payments were clearly distinguished in their financial dealings.
A's family rebuffed Kim's claim that more than 100 million won was handed over without any repayment agreement, saying the two were not in a romantic relationship but merely acquaintances, according to Sports Kyunghyang.
The family also said Kim had repeatedly borrowed and repaid money to A in the past, arguing that the distinction between loans and support payments was not as clear-cut as Kim maintained.
Alongside the lawsuit, A's family placed a provisional seizure worth about 200 million won on Kim's apartment in Oksu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, in April.
paq@heraldcorp.com
