MBC Investigative Journalism Program Straight recently took a closer look at the unusual profit structure behind the YouTube channel Garo Sero Instituterun by YouTuber Kim Se Ui.
In the June 14 broadcast, YouTuber Eun Hyun Jang, who became the main shareholder after purchasing a 50% stake in Garo Sero Instituteappeared on the program to discuss the channel’s revenue performance and financial flow.
According to the broadcast, Garo Sero Institute has seen explosive growth since launching in July 2018. Its annual revenue reportedly grew from KRW 1.76 billion in 2019 to KRW 4.35 billion in 2020, more than doubling in one year. During this time, the channel also reportedly ranked first globally in YouTube Super Chat donations.
The channel has faced multiple legal hurdles over the years. In 2019, he was ordered to pay KRW 45 million in damages for spreading false information about former Justice Minister Cho Kuk. In 2021, he was also ordered to pay KRW 10 million after raising prostitution charges against former MP Song Young Gil.
THE Straight the production team argued that such compensation amounts had little impact on a channel that generated billions of won in revenue. According to the report, after its main sources of income, including advertising revenue from views and donations via Super Chat, were limited, Garo Sero Institute he allegedly turned to direct donations via personal bank accounts and more obvious product placements.
Speaking during the program, Eun Hyun Jang said that the channel has become increasingly aggressive in its monetization efforts over the past year or two. He observed, “Kim Se Ui used to criticize people as scammers whenever they talked about cryptocurrency on broadcasts, but when he himself started promoting coin advertisements, many people thought he had completely hit rock bottom.”
During the legal proceedings surrounding actor Kim Soo Hyun’s damages lawsuit, Kim Se Ui’s personal real estate assets were reportedly examined. Reports say he owns apartments in upmarket neighborhoods in Seoul, including Apgujeong and Seocho, with a combined value estimated at more than KRW 10 billion.
Previously, on June 5, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency announced that Kim Se Ui, the head of the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institutehe had been referred to the Prosecutor’s Office under arrest on charges of defamation and violation of anti-stalking laws linked to the dissemination of false information about the actor.
Police reportedly concluded that Kim Se Ui manipulated some conversations through AI-generated voice editing and other forms of digital fabrication.
Kim Soo Hyun’s agency expressed gratitude to the judicial authorities and said it intends to continue the legal action by increasing the amount requested in the damages lawsuit against Kim Se Ui to KRW 30 billion.
Sources: Naver
