On March 24, actor Kim Soo Hyun’s agency Gold Medalist announced that it has filed an additional criminal complaint against Garo Sero Institute (Garo Sero) operator Kim Se Ui, this time on charges of criminal intimidation (blackmailing).
The agency explained that it had already filed a report on March 20 accusing Garo Sero of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, after the channel released a private photo of Kim Soo Hyun during a YouTube livestream. However, Garo Sero re-posted the same image in another broadcast just one day later, on March 21.
“This behavior represents a clear violation of the law and blatant disregard for the investigative authorities,” Gold Medalist stated. “It is criminal conduct that defies common sense.”
What sparked even greater backlash was Garo Sero’s verbal threat to release alleged video footage of Kim Soo Hyun unless Disney+ cancels the release of its upcoming original K-drama “Knock-Off”, in which the actor stars. During the same broadcast, Garo Sero repeatedly referenced the Nth Room case (where various illicit footage of women, filmed without consent, was spread), implying that Kim Soo Hyun had committed similar crimes.
At the end of his statement, Kim Se Ui even made a gesture that mimicked biting a pen and having his wrists tied, repeatedly asking, “Mr. Kim Soo Hyun, you like this kind of thing, right?”, making it seem like a hint for future revelations.
In response to the Nth room-related accusations, Gold Medalist emphasized, “These accusations are completely false/ There is no such footage, and the claims made by Garo Sero are entirely baseless and malicious.”
On the other hand, amid Kim Soo Hyun’s controversies, his upcoming series “Knock-Off” is now facing indefinite postponement, leaving its future uncertain.