Kim Soo Hyun is reportedly preparing a massive damages lawsuit against Kim Se Ui, head of the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute.
The development comes shortly after Kim Se Ui was formally arrested on May 26 amid charges relating to defamation, intimidation, attempted coercion and distribution of allegedly doctored evidence linked to the late actress Kim Sae Ron.
On May 28, lawyer Go Sang Rok, Kim Soo Hyun’s legal representative, appeared at the hearing MBC News and strongly criticized Kim Se Ui’s actions.
According to the lawyer, Kim Se Ui spread false claims that Kim Soo Hyun had been involved in a long-term relationship with Kim Sae Ron that began during her minor years and had put financial pressure on her through debt repayment demands from her agency.
Lawyer Go further alleged that fabricated KakaoTalk conversations and manipulated audio recordings would be used to support such charges.
“This is an unprecedented case where unverified suspicions have been spread and narratives have been distorted to manipulate public perception,” the lawyer said during the broadcast.
He added that the controversy went beyond normal misinformation, describing it as: “A collective and planned social crime intended to completely destroy the reputation and life of an innocent actor loved throughout the world.”
According to Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team, an initial lawsuit seeking around ₩12 billion in damages had already been filed shortly after the controversy broke out last year.
However, after recalculating the financial losses allegedly caused by the scandal, the legal team now estimates that the damages are closer to ₩30 billion (about 원300).
Attorney Go explained that the revised figure reflects the economic damages, including advertising losses, reputational damage and other professional impacts suffered by the actor.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station – which has reportedly been investigating the case for over a year – concluded that the audio files previously distributed by Kim Se Ui had likely been manipulated using artificial intelligence technology.
Authorities also reportedly determined that some of the KakaoTalk messages circulating online may have been modified or fabricated.
Based on these findings, police requested an arrest warrant earlier this month on charges that included violations of special laws related to sexual crimes, defamation, threats and attempted coercion.
The court finally approved the arrest warrant on May 26.
With Kim Se Ui now in custody, investigators are expected to focus on determining the exact motives behind the alleged spread of false information and whether financial gain through YouTube content played a role in the controversy.
The case continues to attract enormous public attention in South Korea, where debates over celebrity privacy, online misinformation and digital harassment remain highly sensitive topics.
Sources: Daum | My daily newspaper
