Garo Sero Research Institute Questions Park Seo-joon and Kim Soo-hyun’s Friendship: “Weaker Than Paper” Allegation
On March 17, Kim Se-ui, the representative of the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute (Garo Sero), reignited speculation about the friendship between actors Park Seo-joon and Kim Soo-hyun by referencing Park Seo-joon’s past interview.
The interview in question dates back to October of the previous year, when Park Seo-joon appeared on Jung Jae-hyung’s YouTube channel “Fairy Jae-hyung”. During the discussion, Park Seo-joon opened up about how, after completing his military service, he was able to join an agency thanks to Kim Soo-hyun’s assistance.
He explained, “After I was discharged, a friend of a friend, who was close to Kim Soo-hyun at the time, made a request on my behalf. They asked if it would be possible for me to meet with the company (Kim Soo-hyun’s agency), and Kim Soo-hyun gladly arranged it.”
Expressing his gratitude, Park Seo-joon continued, “That’s how I ended up visiting the company. On the day I went, the CEO immediately brought up the contract. He handed me the contract, confidently saying, ‘This is a standard contract, but if you’re uncertain, you can consult a lawyer.’ Since it was my first time visiting an agency, I told them I would review it and get back to them. The company was so big that, in the end, I signed with them.”
However, Garo Sero’s representative Kim Se-ui interpreted the relationship between the two actors differently, stating that their friendship was “weaker than a piece of paper.” He further added, “Last night, I checked Park Seo-joon’s Instagram. Isn’t it quite meaningful?”
On March 16, Park Seo-joon had posted photos taken in Paris, captioned, “What did I do in Paris? Horizontal.”
Kim Se-ui speculated that the caption had hidden implications, saying, “Kim Soo-hyun’s nickname was ‘YouTuber Kim Paris.’ He exchanged love letters with Kim Sae-ron, referring to each other as ‘horizontal and vertical.’ Park Seo-joon’s caption, ‘What did I do in Paris? Horizontal,’ seems to hint at this.”
He continued, “I even left a comment there. I support Park Seo-joon. Their friendship is truly weaker than a piece of paper.”
Kim Se-ui also left a public comment under Park Seo-joon’s post, writing, “YouTuber Kim Paris is being exposed by Garo Sero Research Institute. We will work even harder to clear actress Kim Sae-ron’s name. Park Seo-joon, fighting!”
Despite the controversy, some netizens dismissed the claims, arguing that Park Seo-joon’s caption merely referred to the horizontal format of his photos and had no underlying meaning directed at Kim Soo-hyun.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the legal representative of the late Kim Sae-ron’s family, the law firm Buyu, held a press conference at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
Attorney Bu Ji-seok revealed that they had filed a defamation lawsuit against YouTuber Lee Jin-ho for spreading false information.
He further stated, “After Kim Soo-hyun’s agency sent the first legal notice, the late Kim Sae-ron texted Kim Soo-hyun, pleading for help. However, he did not respond. Instead, his agency sent a second legal notice.”
The ongoing controversy has left fans divided, with some defending the actors while others question the nature of their friendship.