The fan voting platform, Giftree, has shared the reason behind the sudden suspension of a subway advertisement featuring Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon. The ad, which won first place in a fan vote last November, sparked unexpected controversy.

On January 22, Giftree posted a statement explaining, "The subway ad featuring Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon, which began on January 17, was suspended after over 40 complaints were filed with the transit authority. Many of these complaints questioned, ‘Why are the two of them featured together?’"

The platform revealed that even a single complaint is enough for the transit authority to suspend an ad under their internal policies. They added, "As a result, the advertisement was abruptly taken down."

Originally, the ad was supposed to run from January 13 to January 27 at Konkuk University Station on Seoul Subway Line 7. However, after its removal, Giftree explained that attempts to reinstate it failed. They said, "We submitted the ad design for review at other subway stations, but it was rejected for the same reason due to ongoing complaints."

In an effort to resolve the issue, the transit authority suggested showing Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon separately for 10 seconds each. However, Giftree stated, "Even with this adjustment, the ad couldn’t proceed because complaints continued to pour in. We were also warned that further complaints could lead to all future advertisements from Giftree being banned."

The platform ended their statement with a plea to fans, saying, "If these complaints keep coming, it could mean that Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon won’t be able to appear in any subway ads in the future. We ask for fans’ understanding and request that no more complaints be filed."

The sudden backlash and suspension of the ad have left fans both confused and upset, as many are wondering why featuring the two talented actors together sparked such an issue.

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Actor Kim Soo Hyun's dedicated fanbase is taking action against online hate and false rumors aimed at damaging his reputation.

On April 22nd, the Kim Soo Hyun Fan Union (comprising Daum Cafe Yukaris and DC Inside Kim Soo Hyun Gallery) released a statement announcing they are working to file criminal charges against those spreading harmful slander about the actor.

Their lawyer, Yang Tae Young from Law Firm Siwoo, revealed that they plan to take legal action as soon as this week, filing a formal complaint at the Seoul Seongbuk Police Station. According to the fan union, these online users are violating the Information and Communication Network Act by spreading malicious defamation.

While defamation cases can be pursued by third parties, unlike insults which require the victim to act, the fan union is determined to protect Kim Soo Hyun's reputation. They stated, "This is a voluntary movement to defend the actor’s rights and maintain a healthy fan culture. We won’t tolerate personal attacks disguised as freedom of speech and will take action without hesitation."

The fan union also emphasized that this effort is not just limited to South Korea. International fans have joined the movement, showing support for the cause. The union has gathered solid evidence, including harmful comments, manipulated images, and false posts made over the past few months.

In a related move, Kim Soo Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, filed a separate report with the authorities on April 15th, condemning the continuous spread of baseless rumors and unverified claims that have been damaging to the actor’s image. They also filed a defamation lawsuit.

This all stems from claims made by the family of late actress Kim Sae Ron, starting in March. Through the Garoseero Research Institute YouTube channel, they alleged that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron were in a relationship from November 2015 (when Kim Sae Ron was a minor) until July 2021. They presented supposed evidence such as handwritten letters Kim Soo Hyun allegedly sent to Kim Sae Ron during his military service and a photo of Kim Soo Hyun kissing Kim Sae Ron on the cheek.

In response, Kim Soo Hyun's agency clarified on March 14th that the actor only began a relationship with Kim Sae Ron after she became an adult, from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020. Kim Soo Hyun also addressed the rumors directly during a press conference on March 31st, stating, "I did not date Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor."

The situation continues to unfold, with fans and the actor taking a firm stance against the damaging rumors.

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