The head of the Garo Sero Institute (GaSeYeon) YouTube channel, Kim Se Ui, has been arrested. In the latest developments, actor Kim Soo Hyun’s side has suggested that his damages suit, initially filed for ₩12 billion, could be extended up to ₩30 billion.
On March 10 last year, GaSeYeon claimed that the late actress Kim Sae Ron had a relationship with Kim Soo Hyun when she was still a minor. The channel also raised suspicions that pressure from Kim Soo Hyun regarding debt repayment contributed to the circumstances of his death.
In response to the allegations, Kim Soo Hyun held an emergency press conference on March 31, strongly denying claims that he dated Kim Sae Ron while he was underage. She claimed that their relationship began only after she became an adult. The plaintiff also insisted that the KakaoTalk messages and photographs submitted as evidence had been manipulated.
During the press conference, Kim Soo Hyun became emotional and was seen in tears as he addressed the controversy. He explained that, as a public figure, there were many things he felt responsible to protect. At the same time, his legal team filed a ₩12 billion damages lawsuit against GaSeYeon and Kim Sae Ron’s grieving family members. Since the press conference, the actor has largely suspended his entertainment activities.
The situation has recently entered a new phase. After conducting an investigation for about a year and two months, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul requested an arrest warrant for Kim Se Ui on charges that included violations of the Sexual Violence Punishment Law, defamation, intimidation and attempted coercion. The court approved the warrant on May 26, citing concerns about possible destruction of evidence and the risk of flight.
Following news of the arrest, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Medaglia d’Oro, released a statement noting that the various allegations and evidence presented by GaSeYeon were found to be false during the investigative process.
The agency further claimed that KakaoTalk conversations made public during the controversy were altered and fabricated from conversations involving unrelated third parties rather than Kim Soo Hyun. It further stated that the audio recordings attributed to the late actress were determined to be manipulated materials generated using artificial intelligence technology.
Expressing gratitude to the investigators, the gold medalist recalled Kim Soo Hyun’s statement from a year earlier, when he told the audience, “I won’t just ask you to trust me. I will prove it.” According to the agency, the actor spent the last year focusing entirely on keeping his promise and ultimately managed to establish the truth through legal procedures and a thorough investigation. The club also thanked the fans who continued to support him during the ordeal.
Attention is now turning to the question of whether Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team will significantly increase the size of his damages claim.
In an interview with MBC News today On May 28, lawyer Ko Sang Rok, Kim Soo Hyun’s legal representative, revealed that the estimated financial losses currently amount to around ₩30 billion. He suggested that the amount sought in the lawsuit could be adjusted accordingly.
The lawyer explained that the actor suffered extensive damages, including a prolonged suspension of activities, losses related to advertising contracts and delays in planned projects. One of the most notable setbacks was the indefinite postponement of Disney+ original series Eliminationwhich significantly influenced his career plans.
Now that the allegations regarding Kim Soo Hyun have been disputed through the ongoing legal proceedings and investigation results, public interest is gradually shifting towards the possibility of his return to the entertainment industry.
With the damages lawsuit potentially growing and the dispute entering a new legal phase, attention remains focused on what Kim Soo Hyun’s next move will be.
Sources: Daum
