Kim Se Ui, the head of YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, who was recently detained on charges including defamation against actor Kim Soo Hyun, is now reportedly facing the risk of losing control of the company. Already burdened with an astronomical damages lawsuit from Kim Soo Hyun’s side, Kim now appears to be cornered on multiple fronts, with even his position at Garo Sero Institute under threat.
According to a report by Hankook Ilbo on June 15, YouTuber Eun Hyun Jang, operator of the channel God of Business, recently filed an application with the court seeking the appointment of a temporary director with representative authority for Garo Sero Institute Co., Ltd.
Eun secured a 50% stake in the company during an ongoing dispute with Garo Sero Institute, which had previously raised various allegations against him. Since then, he has reportedly continued an intense management battle, including convening an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting and reducing Kim Se Ui’s executive compensation to zero.
According to documents obtained by Hankook Ilbo, Kim Se Ui was appointed CEO in July 2021, but his three-year term under company bylaws reportedly expired in July 2024. With other internal directors resigning, Kim is said to currently be serving in the legally unstable position of a “retired director” carrying out duties on a temporary basis.
In particular, Eun’s side cited Kim Se Ui’s detention as a major reason for requesting a temporary director appointment. They argued that Kim is unable to carry out normal executive duties after being detained over allegations related to broadcasts involving Kim Soo Hyun, including defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, violations of sexual violence laws, stalking law violations, intimidation, and attempted coercion.
If the court approves the request for a temporary director, Kim Se Ui would effectively step down as CEO, pushing Garo Sero Institute’s management dispute into an entirely new phase.
As Kim faces both legal troubles and a management crisis, attention is also turning toward the potentially enormous damages lawsuit being prepared by Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team.
On June 1, attorney Go Sang Rok, Kim Soo Hyun’s legal representative, appeared on YTN Radio’s Wise Radio Life and emphasized, “Criminal punishment for severe cybercrimes is important, but obtaining a strict legal judgment through civil damages claims is equally critical.”
Attorney Go also revealed that Kim Soo Hyun’s side is actively reviewing plans to expand the damages claim from the originally estimated ₩12 billion to as much as ₩30 billion.
Sources: Nate
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