Kim Soo-hyun Battles Back as Property Seized Over Claims Linked to Garo Sero Institute
Actor Kim Soo-hyun has found himself at the center of controversy after his luxury property was provisionally seized as part of a 3 billion KRW (approximately $2.2 million USD) lawsuit filed by an advertiser. The case is closely tied to controversial claims made by the far-right YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, prompting heated public debate.
According to his legal representation from law firm LKB & Partners, Kim Soo-hyun’s unit in the high-end Galleria Foret complex was temporarily seized following a damage claim by an advertiser alleging breach of contract. However, Kim Soo-hyun’s lawyer emphasized that the core of the lawsuit rests on fabricated evidence provided by Garo Sero Institute.
“The advertiser submitted manipulated KakaoTalk messages and recordings as evidence, based on claims from Garo Sero Institute,” stated attorney Bang Sung-hoon. “This shows the severity of Garo Sero Institute’s actions and how their misinformation is causing secondary harm to Kim Soo-hyun, who is actually the victim.”
The actor’s legal team also expressed frustration that despite the lack of any verified wrongdoing, Kim Soo-hyun is being further victimized by speculative public discourse and now financial legal actions.
The controversy stems from Garo Sero Institute’s claims that Kim Soo-hyun dated actress Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor—allegations his side denies, saying the relationship began in 2019 after she became an adult. In March, Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference denying misconduct, while his agency filed lawsuits against Garo Sero Institute’s CEO Kim Se-ui and Kim Sae-ron’s family for defamation and stalking, seeking 11 billion KRW in damages. Recently, a Seoul court approved a 4 billion KRW property seizure from Kim Se-ui, including real estate and frozen bank accounts.
As the legal battle intensifies, many await further rulings to determine whether these complex allegations and property seizures reflect actual legal wrongdoing—or are a stark example of how misinformation and media manipulation can disrupt lives and careers.
