Latest news with #Garosero
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Kim Soo Hyun's brand value drops to zero as 16 ‘frustrated' advertisers demand billions in damages
Kim Soo Hyun's empire is on the verge of collapse as not two, or three, but 16 brands that once proudly signed him as their ambassador are now lining up to sue, with each seeking damages running into millions. According to Daum, the Queen of Tears star's image has taken a massive hit, not just in South Korea but globally, ever since his controversy with the late actor Kim Sae Ron erupted. While no verdict has been reached yet, and Soo Hyun continues to fight his ₩12 million lawsuit against YouTube channel Garosero for accusing him of having an inappropriate relationship with a minor, the damage is already done. The severity of the allegations, paired with a press conference that rubbed many the wrong way, has led to 'frustration' among the advertisers. Also read: Kim Soo Hyun moves National Forensic Service after his plush apartment seized; to challenge Garosero's 'fabricated' evidence June has been brutal for the once-beloved K-drama star, whose apartment and assets worth millions were seized by two brands that publicly revealed their identities. Medical skincare brand Classys swooped in on his Galleria Forêt apartment, which he had purchased back in 2013 and 2014. Classys filed a lawsuit demanding ₩3.00 billion KRW (approx. $2.19 million USD). The very next day, South Korean electronics giant Cuckoo headed to court to freeze Soo Hyun's assets worth about ₩100 million KRW (roughly $73,500 USD). Along with its multiple subsidiaries—including a rice cooker brand and its Chinese affiliate—the company is demanding ₩850 million KRW (around $625,000 USD) in damages. A joint lawsuit combining all the holdings Soo Hyun represented totals ₩2.03 billion KRW (around $1.47 million USD). On April 25, another cosmetic brand moved to court, demanding ₩510 million KRW (roughly $367,000 USD). And now, two more brands have come forward: ₩510 million from Trendmaker and ₩3.96 billion from Frombio. So far, the total claimed damages have skyrocketed to ₩7.34 billion. Also read: Kim Soo Hyun loses millions in assets to home appliance brand after luxury apartment seizure; fails to pay damages Prada, which had signed the actor just months before the controversy derailed his career and upcoming projects, was the first international brand to pull the plug. Kim Soo Hyun's brand reputation has been completely wiped out despite him constantly trending on local trackers. His popularity still soars, both in South Korea and globally, with support trucks arriving from countries with massive K-drama fandoms. Some fans even went as far as filing independent lawsuits after hiring their own attorneys to defend the actor. Soo Hyun's legal team, LKB & Partners, earlier issued a statement saying the evidence being used by advertisers to distance themselves is completely fabricated. They've now moved the case to the national forensics department in hopes of flipping the narrative. 'What Garo Sero is claiming is false, and it's becoming increasingly clear that Kim Soo Hyun is the actual victim here,' his lawyer said.
Pink Villa
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Why did Kim Soo Hyun mention in livestream dispatch police to Garosero's office? YouTuber claims 'press suppression'
The controversy involving Kim Soo Hyun and the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute escalated again on June 13, 2025. Seoul police were dispatched to the channel's office in Shinsa-dong. The incident came after the channel aired a live broadcast. The viewers say it may have violated a court-issued stalking restriction involving the actor. Live broadcast prompts immediate reaction According to reports, the latest stream featured Kim Soo Hyun 's name prominently in the video thumbnail before it went live. This triggered a wave of concern among netizens. They suspected the move could be a violation of the court's provisional measure. The order bars Kim Se Ui, the figurehead of Garosero, from producing or publishing content related to the actor. As viewers witnessed the stream unfold in real time, multiple individuals reported the video to the police. It prompted immediate action from authorities. Police visit and verbal warning Seoul's police responded swiftly, visiting the YouTube studio and confronting Kim Se Ui directly. Officers reportedly informed him of the provisional stalking measure in place and issued a verbal warning. They urged caution in any further content referencing Kim Soo Hyun. The interaction was brief, and officers departed soon after, but the implications were significant. When asked by the media about the specifics of the warning or whether legal procedures would follow, police declined to elaborate. They stated they could not provide detailed confirmation at this stage. Kim Se Ui responds Despite the police's intervention, Kim Se Ui addressed the situation directly during the same broadcast. Visibly frustrated, he stated, 'The police rang the doorbell and interrupted me while I was on a live broadcast. This is an apparent suppression of the press.' Stalking order The visit follows an earlier decision by the Seoul Central District Court, which imposed a provisional stalking order against Kim Se Ui. It restricts his ability to reference or contact Kim Soo Hyun. The YouTuber had appealed the court's decision, but the appeal was dismissed, leaving the order intact. Garosero's role in controversy Garosero Research Institute has been at the center of the firestorm surrounding the late actress Kim Sae Ron and her alleged relationship with Kim Soo Hyun. The channel has repeatedly published videos making serious claims about the actor. Many of which remain unverified. Backed by members of Kim Sae Ron's family, Garosero alleges that Kim Soo Hyun was in a romantic relationship with the actress for six years. It allegedly began when she was still underage. However, Kim Soo Hyun firmly denied the accusations. He states that the actor and Kim Sae Ron were in a relationship for only one year, and only after she became a legal adult.
Pink Villa
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Is Kim Soo Hyun personally involved in provisional seizure of Garosero YouTuber's assets amid Kim Sae Ron scandal?
The Kim Soo Hyun-Kim Sae Ron dating scandal had a major development with the actress' side receiving their first major blow. It included the court ordering for seizure of two properties of YouTuber Kim Se Eui of Garosero Research Institute– the one who amplified Kim Sae Ron's family's messages to the world. As per a June 11 report by Newsen, Kim Soo Hyun was directly involved in the provisional seizure of assets. Read to know how. Garosero's Kim Se Eui slapped with seizure of 2 real estate assets Kim Se Eui was the constant supporter of Kim Sae Ron 's bereaved family and all the revelations regarding the two actors' past involvement with each other was made through his YouTube channel. Due to that, a damages lawsuit was filed and asset seizure request was made by Kim Soo Hyun's agency against Kim Se Eui, which resulted favourably for the actor's side. The Seoul Central District Court approved the real estate seizure request of GOLDMEDALIST, worth 11 billion KRW (about 8 million USD). It allowed the agency to claim two of Kim Se Ui's luxury residential properties, with their total worth being 4 billion KRW (about 2.93 million USD). The properties included a Hanyang 4th Apartment in Apgujeong and a Buksan Blooming Apartment in Seocho. Kim Soo Hyun's direct involvement in provisional seizure of Garosero operator Kim Soo Hyun was explicitly named as a creditor in the provisional seizure of Garosero Institute Co., Ltd.'s bank account holding corporate sponsorship funds. This move underscored his hands-on approach in pursuing legal action against the whistle-blower. The reason Kim Soo Hyun's name wasn't included in the real estate seizures, according to LKB & Partners, his legal team, was that registering a claim on real estate would require making his personal details publicly accessible. To maintain his privacy and keep crucial information out of reach of the opposing party, Kim Soo Hyun strategically decided to participate directly only in the bank account seizure, thereby maintaining confidentiality. The issue stemmed from Kim Sae Ron's side accusing Kim Soo Hyun of being involved romantically with the late actress during her underage days. Kim Soo Hyun legally refuted it, filing defamation charges against both the bereaved family and the Garosero operator.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kim Soo Hyun scores major legal win against Garosero as court orders seizure of Kim Se Ui's Seoul apartments worth $2.9 million
The Seoul Central District Court has approved the seizure of two high-value apartments owned by Kim Se Ui, 48, CEO of the controversial Garosero Research Institute, following a lawsuit filed by Gold Medalist, the agency representing actor Kim Soo Hyun, 37. According to K-media outlet Money Today, the court's decision, issued on the 9th, targets a 120.27㎡ unit in Seocho Byeoksan Blooming (Seocho-gu) and a 208.65㎡ unit in Hanyang 4th Apartment (Gangnam-gu), both owned by Kim Se Ui. Since the Gangnam property is co-owned with his sister, only Kim's 50% stake was seized. The total claim amounts to 4 billion KRW (approx. USD 2.9 million)—2 billion KRW for each property. Garosero's role in Kim Soo Hyun's dating scandal Garosero Research Institute gained notoriety earlier this year after exposing allegations that Kim Soo Hyun had an inappropriate relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor. The controversy erupted when Kim Sae Ron's aunt claimed the actor had been involved with her niece when she was just 15, while he was 27. Kim Soo Hyun denied the underage dating allegations but admitted to a relationship with Kim Sae Ron only after she turned 19 (Korean age). However, Garosero escalated the scandal by releasing intimate photos of the two, including a nude photo of Kim Soo Hyun, intensifying public scrutiny. Legal repercussions & financial fallout Gold Medalist, Kim Soo Hyun's agency, retaliated with lawsuits against Kim Se Ui and Kim Sae Ron's family for defamation and violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, seeking 12 billion KRW (approx. $8.7 million USD) in damages. Legal experts suggest that if the court rules against Garosero, Kim Se Ui and the bereaved family could face joint liability, meaning they may share financial responsibility regardless of individual involvement. Financial complications: Mortgages & market value Despite the seizure, creditors may not recover the full claimed amount. Kim Se Ui had already mortgaged both properties for a combined 5.022 billion KRW (approx. USD 3.6 million). Seocho Byeoksan Blooming (2.5 billion KRW market value): Mortgaged for 1.32 billion KRW. Hanyang 4th Apartment (8.87 billion KRW total value; 4.4 billion KRW for Kim's 50% stake): Mortgaged for 3.7 billion KRW. With the seizure claim (4 billion KRW) and existing loans exceeding the properties' market values, Gold Medalist may struggle to recover the full damages sought. Notably, the court's seizure order is provisional, meaning the final amount could change based on Kim Se Ui's defense. However, the case underscores the escalating legal and financial stakes in this high-profile scandal. For now, all eyes remain on the courtroom as Kim Soo Hyun's agency continues its pursuit of justice and compensation against Garosero's explosive claims. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Pink Villa
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Kim Soo Hyun-Kim Sae Ron dating scandal sparks 50K petition signatures calling for probe into Garosero
A public petition demanding stronger legal oversight of online platforms, especially targeting YouTube Garosero, has gained over 50,000 signatures in less than two weeks. It was filed on May 22 through the National Assembly's electronic petition system in South Korea. The proposal seeks urgent reforms to address repeated privacy violations, false reporting, and the spread of harmful content. It's titled 'Petition to Improve the System to Prevent the Repeated Spread of False Information and Human Rights Violations on Online Platforms.' The proposal aims to hold content creators and platforms accountable for allowing unverified and damaging material to go unchecked. As of June 3, the petition had gathered over 54,000 supporters. It will remain open until June 21, allowing citizens to add their names in support of institutional change. At the center of the controversy is the Garosero Research Institute, a YouTube channel run by Kim Se Ui. Most recently, the channel has been widely condemned for releasing private and sensitive materials involving the late actress Kim Sae Ron and actor Kim Soo Hyun. Accusations against Garosero and Kim Se Ui According to the petition, Garosero has repeatedly released content containing serious allegations. Many of which were said to be either unverified or damaging to the reputations of those involved. The petitioner emphasized that these actions have crossed ethical lines and caused irreversible harm not only to public figures but also to their families. 'Indiscriminate spreading of false information and exposure of personal privacy have reached a level that can no longer be tolerated in our society,' the petitioner stated. The petition further called for legal punishment and platform-based sanctions. It also demanded an independent investigation into Garosero's content and operations. Specific concern was raised about Garosero's recent uploads involving sensitive materials about Kim Sae Ron, who passed away in February. The channel has been working with her family. They have been releasing alleged private messages, photos, and videos that reportedly prove she was romantically involved with Kim Soo Hyun for six years. The relationship is said to have begun when she was still a minor. Fallout for Kim Soo Hyun As a direct consequence of the dissemination of these claims, Kim Soo Hyun have suffered serious career disruptions. His upcoming drama Knock-Off has been indefinitely postponed. Moreover, several brand endorsements have quietly ended or been suspended. The scandal has had a chilling effect on his public image. In response, Kim Soo Hyun has taken legal action against both Kim Se Ui and the bereaved family of Kim Sae Ron. He accused them of defamation, invasion of privacy, and the malicious use of personal material. Petition demands broader legal and institutional reforms Beyond individual accountability, the petition argues for systemic reform. It calls on lawmakers to revise current media regulations. It also urges the enforcement of stricter guidelines on YouTube and other digital platforms that allow such content to thrive without consequence. The petitioner highlighted the damaging impact of 'cyber wrecking.' Examples cited in the petition include distorted reporting, manipulated narratives, and intentional misinformation. All of which the petitioner claimed were tactics used by Garosero to fuel engagement and views at the expense of truth and ethics.
