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 allegations related to defamation, intimidation, attempted coercion, and the distribution of allegedly manipulated evidence connected to the late actress Kim Sae Ron.
On May 28, attorney Go Sang Rok, legal representative for Kim Soo Hyun, appeared on MBC News and strongly criticized Kim Se Ui’s actions.
According to the lawyer, Kim Se Ui allegedly spread false claims suggesting that Kim Soo Hyun had been involved in a long-term relationship with Kim Sae Ron beginning during her minor years and had pressured her financially through debt repayment demands from his agency.
Attorney Go further claimed that fabricated KakaoTalk conversations and manipulated audio recordings were allegedly used to support those accusations.
“This is an unprecedented case where unverified suspicions were spread and narratives distorted to manipulate public perception,” the lawyer stated during the broadcast.
He added that the controversy went beyond ordinary misinformation, describing it as: “A collective and planned social crime intended to completely destroy the reputation and life of an innocent actor loved worldwide.”
According to Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team, an initial lawsuit seeking approximately ₩12 billion in damages had already been filed shortly after the controversy first erupted last year.
However, after recalculating financial losses allegedly caused by the scandal, the legal team now estimates the damages to be closer to ₩30 billion (approximately 300억 원).
Attorney Go explained that the revised figure reflects economic damages including advertising losses, reputation damage, and other professional impacts suffered by the actor.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station — which reportedly investigated the case for over a year — concluded that 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 circulated online may have been edited or fabricated.
Based on these findings, police requested an arrest warrant earlier this month under charges including violations of special laws related to sexual crimes, defamation, threats, and attempted coercion.
The court ultimately 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 dissemination of false information and whether financial gain through YouTube content played a role in the controversy.
The case continues drawing enormous public attention in South Korea, where debates surrounding celebrity privacy, online misinformation, and digital harassment remain highly sensitive topics.
Sources: Daum | 마이데일리
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