Actor Kim Soo Hyun has a lot to deal with after his controversial relationship with fellow actor Kim Sae Ron.
However, if the allegations of orchestrating a flood of paid positive comments on social media during a negative public sentiment campaign prove true, he may have even bigger trouble ahead.
Public sentiment was initially stacked so much against Kim in the wake of the scandal. But in recent weeks -- through reports and extensive social media snooping -- positive comments praising the actor on numerous sites have shot up.
Critics are concerned that many of these comments may have originated from paid sources, and evidence suggests they were copied and pasted across the Internet.
As per Koreaboo, KNN News, an affiliate of SBS, reported that several supportive posts exhibited striking similarities in content and phrasing.
Netizens have compiled numerous examples of articles that appear in different fan communities. All echo the same sentiments, aiming to generate sympathy for Kim.
Read more: Kim Soo Hyun's Agency Questions Kim Sae Ron Whistleblower's Identity Amid Controversy– Fans Outraged
A widely circulated headline says, "The side of Kim Soo Hyun is the public opinion," which people were regurgitating to each other on many forums.
Users also noted a peculiar incident where a community site member seemingly forgot to switch accounts and responded to their own supportive comment, raising further suspicions about the authenticity of the online support.
Kim has donated to the Sewol Ferry Disaster Relief Project in the past, including 300 million KRW. Still, the opposition claims this attempt to spin media interest lacks substance, given the serious allegations against the star.
Korean netizens have been outraged by what they see as dishonesty and frustrated with his agency, Gold Medalist Entertainment. According to reports, three crisis management teams are working on the controversy.
Commenters on online community forum Pann Nate doubted the agency would be able to do anything effective in the long run, and found the agency's initial responses clunky at best.
Kim Soo Hyun, in the meantime, faces mounting suspicion given the circumstances in which the actors and properties found themselves — a literal ticking time bomb in both the actor's public image and career.
