Kim Soo-Hyun hits: he undertakes a legal action for a leaked stripped photo, he turns to the family of Garo Sero and Kim Sae-Sore

The actor Kim Soo-Hyun embarked on a legal action against Garo Sero Research Institute (Garo Sero), a controversial YouTube channel, as well as individuals of the family of the deceased actress Kim Sae-Se-Se, for losing and transmitting a private photo of hers in a stripped state.

Kim Soo-Hyun’s agency issues a strong statement

On March 20, the gold medal of the Kim Soo-Hyun agency issued an official declaration through its legal representative, Lkb & Partners, regarding the accident.

“The gold medal, as Kim Soo-Hyun’s management agency, filed a complaint against Kim Se-Eu, the operator of the Garo Sero Institute, for having published a photo of Kim Soo-Hyun undressed during a live broadcast on YouTube. Furthermore, a cause was intended against the unidentified relative of the late Kim Sae, who supported he was his OME.

The agency stressed that the photo in question was taken while Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Sae-Sign had a relationship as consenting adults, but said it was a private image that should never have been made public.

Threats and continuous exhibition of private images

The gold medal has further condemned the unauthorized exit and the public transmission of the photo, calling it a “Clear criminal act”. The agency also revealed that Garo Sero threatened to release further images, increasing the need for legal action.

They concluded, “If the family of the deceased Kim Sae-Sore or Garo Sero Institute continues to disseminate false information, we will have no choice than to adopt complete legal measures to protect our actor’s reputation.”

Previously, Garo Sero had aired a photo on March 15 who showed Kim Soo-Hyun who wore only a shirt and an underwear as he washed the dishes in Kim Sae-Sore’s house. The channel claimed to have received permission from the Kim Sae-SE-SE-SE family to reveal the image.

Complete declaration of the gold medal

[Official Statement Regarding Legal Action Against Garo Sero Institute]

1. As management agency of the actor Kim Soo-Hyun, the gold medal presented a legal complaint against Kim Se-Eu, the operator of the YouTube channel “Garo Sero Institute”, who published a photo of Kim Soo-Hyun was undressed during a live broadcast. In addition, we have undertaken a legal action against the family of the deceased actress Kim Sae-Se-Sore and an unidentified individual who claims to be his aunt to provide the photo, on charges of violation of the law on special cases concerning the punishment of sexual crimes (distribution of the images taken using cameras, etc.).
2. As stated in our previous statement, the gold medal cries the disappearance of our former artist, the deceased Kim Sae-S, and extend our most condolences. However, the photo published by the Garo Sero Institute was taken while Kim Soo-Hyun and the deceased Kim Sae-Sore, who at the time was an adult, had a relationship. This image contains a private moment that could cause sexual humiliation for Kim Soo-Hyun and would never have had to be made public. The publication of these content on a YouTube channel is a clear criminal act. In addition, Garo Sero Institute has threatened to release further similar photos, actually blackmailing Kim Soo-Hyun. Given the seriousness of this situation, the gold medal has no choice but to take strong legal measures. Publicly distributing or viewing images of the body of a person who could cause sexual humiliation, without their consent, is a serious crime. We strongly urge that such actions do not continue.
3. In addition, the false information disseminated by the Garo Sero Institute and by the family of the deceased Kim Sae-Sign continue to circulate online, feeding voices without foundation. Out of respect for the deceased Kim Sae-Sore and his family, the gold medal had abstained from taking legal actions against them. However, the unauthorized distribution of Kim Soo-Hyun’s private photos is an unacceptable and serious offense with recurrence potential. As a result, we were forced to proceed with a legal action also against the family of the deceased Kim Sae-Sign. If Garo Sero Institute and the family of the deceased Kim Sae-Sign continue to disseminate false information, the gold medal will not be left another choice than to undertake complete legal action to protect our company and the reputation of our actor.

March 20, 2025

Kim-Hyun’s decisive legal action reports his position of study against privacy violations and online defamation. While Garo Sero Institute continues to arouse controversy with threats of further exposure, the legal battle that takes place highlights larger concerns for the ethics of the media and personal rights in the digital era. It remains to be seen if this case establishes a precedent for more severe regulations on the distribution of unauthorized content, but one thing is clear, Kim Soo-Hyun is not backly without fighting.