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The ongoing dating scandal involving actors Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron has taken a sharp legal turn, delivering a major setback to the actress’s supporters. On June 11, Newsen reported that the Seoul Central District Court had approved a court-ordered seizure of two luxury real estate assets owned by YouTuber Kim Se Eui, a prominent figure behind the public dissemination of the allegations. This development comes after Kim Soo Hyun and his agency, GOLDMEDALIST, filed a damages lawsuit in response to defamatory claims made against the actor.
Kim Se Eui, operator of the Garosero Research Institute YouTube channel, had continuously promoted statements from Kim Sae Ron’s bereaved family regarding her alleged past relationship with Kim Soo Hyun. His channel became the main outlet through which these accusations spread. As a result, Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team moved forward with a request for provisional seizure of Kim Se Eui’s assets, a request that the court approved.
The ruling allows GOLDMEDALIST to lay claim to two of Kim Se Eui’s properties: a unit in Hanyang 4th Apartment, located in Seoul’s high-profile Apgujeong neighborhood, and another in Buksan Blooming Apartment in Seocho. Combined, the properties are worth an estimated 4 billion KRW (approximately 2.93 million USD), with the total asset seizure value approved at 11 billion KRW (about 8 million USD).
What surprised many was Kim Soo Hyun’s personal involvement in the legal proceedings. According to legal firm LKB & Partners, the actor was directly named as a creditor in a separate seizure of Garosero Institute Co., Ltd.’s bank account, which held corporate sponsorship funds. While Soo Hyun chose not to attach his name to the real estate seizures—citing privacy concerns—he took a more active role in freezing the financial assets. His legal team explained that registering a claim on real estate would require making his personal information public, something he intentionally avoided to protect his privacy.
This legal action stems from Kim Sae Ron’s side accusing Kim Soo Hyun of having a romantic relationship with her during her underage years—a claim that has been strongly denied by the actor. In response, Kim Soo Hyun initiated defamation charges against both the bereaved family members who made the claims and Kim Se Eui, who amplified them to a broader audience.
The lawsuit and asset seizures highlight the gravity of the situation, as Kim Soo Hyun takes a firm stance in defending his reputation. With legal proceedings now in motion and public attention intensifying, the case is expected to remain a hot-button issue within the K-entertainment industry.