Renowned South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has escalated his legal battle against Kim Se-ui, the operator behind the contentious YouTube channel, Garosero Research Institute (commonly referred to as Ga Se-yeon). This latest move was confirmed by his legal representatives, LKB & Partners, on April 2, following the filing of an additional complaint on April 1 concerning breaches of the Stalking Punishment Act.
According to statements released by the law firm, allegations against Kim Soo-hyun have been broadcast repeatedly by Garosero Research Institute since March 10. The channel has accused the actor of having a relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, suggesting that their connection began while she was still a minor. Over the span of nearly three weeks, the channel aired nearly daily content that included uncorroborated claims about the actor’s alleged involvement in the circumstances surrounding Kim Sae-ron’s death.
In a troubling display of privacy invasion, the YouTuber allegedly disseminated images and videos of Kim Soo-hyun alongside personal letters and messages. Emphasizing the urgent need to halt Ga Se-yeon’s “cyber wrecking”activities, Kim Soo-hyun’s team has called for a thorough investigation and the appropriate legal repercussions. The actor’s agency, Gold Medalist, firmly denied these accusations, characterizing them as disinformation based on fabricated evidence.
“Gold Medalist has once again gathered and refuted all of the grounds presented by Ga Se-yeon, thereby making it clear that the claim that Kim Soo-hyun dated the late Kim Sae-ron since they were minors is absolutely not true,”said the representative.
In continued efforts to defend his reputation, Gold Medalist has reiterated its commitment to pursue stringent legal measures against the Garosero Research Institute, particularly concerning the ongoing dissemination of false information. The agency has vowed to react decisively to any further defamatory content aimed at Kim Soo-hyun.
Confronting the Allegations: Kim Soo-hyun’s Stand
The situation intensified when Kim Sae-ron’s family alleged that Kim Soo-hyun was involved in a relationship with her since 2016, a time when she was still a minor. This claim was also aired on the Garosero Research Institute’s channel. Furthermore, the family stated that Kim Sae-ron suffered emotional turmoil due to financial disputes with Gold Medalist, the agency that previously managed her career and had been co-owned by Kim Soo-hyun.
In response to these serious allegations, Gold Medalist announced legal actions against the YouTube channel and various family members of Kim Sae-ron on March 20. The controversies prompted Kim Soo-hyun to hold a press conference on March 31 at the Stanford Hotel in Seoul, where he addressed the allegations alongside his attorney, Kim Jong-bok from LKBN Partners.
During this conference, Kim Soo-hyun expressed regret over the unfolding turmoil and its ripple effects. He admitted that initial fears of public backlash led him to deny the relationship, clarifying that he and Kim Sae-ron were involved for about a year before his role in the drama “Queen of Tears.”Additionally, he vehemently rejected claims concerning private KakaoTalk messages introduced by the family, asserting that these were not his communications. For verification, he submitted his chat records for forensic analysis, which indicated that the messages from 2016 and 2018 were tied to different individuals.
Kim voiced serious concerns about the heavy reliance on edited evidence and manipulated accounts that were being used against him. Highlighting this point, he criticized the use of distorted images and altered message records, underscoring their role in crafting a misleading narrative about his character.
In light of these serious allegations, Kim Soo-hyun and his agency have initiated legal claims for defamation and pledged to comply with all legal processes to establish his innocence.
This ongoing controversy has begun to adversely affect Kim Soo-hyun’s career, resulting in the postponement of his upcoming Disney+ drama “Knock-Off”and disruptions to his advertising partnerships. Reports have also emerged indicating that the family of late entertainment figure Sulli has expressed concerns regarding her portrayal in his earlier film “Real.”
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