Prosecutors have formally sought prison sentences for prominent members of the far-right YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, citing their alleged role in spreading false claims during South Korea’s 20th presidential election campaign.
On July 21, legal sources confirmed that during a final hearing held on July 16 at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Agreement Division 27, presided over by Judge Woo In-sung, prosecutors requested 1 year and 6 months in prison for Kang Yong-seok, a lawyer and former politician affiliated with the channel. For Kim Se-ui, the channel’s head, a 1-year prison sentence was requested.
The charges stem from multiple claims made in 2021. In May and again in November of that year, Kang and Kim allegedly stated that then-presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung had been sent to a juvenile detention center in his youth—an assertion that was later proven to be false. They also reportedly spread misinformation regarding a fall-related injury involving Lee’s wife, Kim Hye-kyung.
These accusations were made public through Garo Sero Institute’s widely followed YouTube platform, which has drawn frequent criticism for its sensationalist and unverified content. The channel has previously faced scrutiny over numerous legal and ethical violations.
The court is expected to deliver its first trial verdict on August 20 at 2:10 PM, a decision that could set an important precedent for the accountability of online misinformation in South Korea’s political discourse.
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