Kim Soo-hyun wins Dh32 million lawsuit to freeze YouTuber’s homes after AI deepfake scandal involving Kim Sae-ron

In a dramatic twist to one of the most talked-about scandals in Korean entertainment, actor Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, has won a court order to provisionally seize two upscale Seoul apartments owned by Kim Se Eui—the head of the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (Gaseyeon)—amid a 12 billion KRW (~$8.8 million USD) defamation lawsuit.

According to Money Today on June 11, the Seoul Central District Court approved the seizure request on June 9. The frozen assets include a 120.27㎡ unit in the affluent Seocho district and a 208.65㎡ property in Apgujeong, Gangnam. The latter is co-owned by Kim Se Eui and his sister, but the court’s decision specifically targets Soo-hyun’s share, valued at roughly 4 billion KRW.

Legal expert Roh Jong Eon, according to AllKpop, explained that the court’s approval signals how compelling and well-substantiated Kim Soo Hyun’s case is. “They clearly identified the source of defamation and outlined the financial damage in detail,” Roh noted. The ruling was made based solely on submitted documents, without a formal hearing from Kim Se Eui or from the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron—meaning the final compensation amount could shift as the case progresses.

The lawsuit stems from explosive claims made during a press conference held by Kim Se Eui in May. He alleged, based on an anonymous audio file, that Kim Soo-hyun had an inappropriate relationship with Kim Sae-ron back in 2015, when she was still a minor. Kim Soo-hyun fired back, stating their relationship began only in the summer of 2019, after she had reached adulthood.

Not stopping there, Kim Se Eui later released what he claimed was a voice recording of Kim Sae-ron confirming the relationship, but it was soon revealed to be an AI-generated deepfake.

 Despite the court’s strong stance, legal insiders say there’s a twist: Both seized properties had already been used as collateral for loans. Even if Gold Medalist wins the case, recovering the full amount may prove difficult.