According to Edaily on June 26, the Seoul High Court’s 25-2 Civil Division (Presiding Judges Hwang Byung-ha, Jeong Jong-gwan, and Lee Kyun-yong) partially upheld an appeal filed by YouTuber Tzuyang on June 24. The ruling mandates that Garosero Research Institute and its representative, Kim Se-ui, must pay a fine of 10 million won (approximately $7,200 USD) for each instance of posting live broadcasts, videos, or other content related to Tzuyang.
The second-instance court stated, “The defendants have continued to upload videos for the purpose of amplifying or reproducing related suspicions or rumors even after the first-instance ruling,” adding that “there is a high likelihood they will repeatedly produce and post content violating the first-instance decision unless a separate indirect enforcement order is issued.”
Previously, the first-instance court ordered the deletion of some videos requested by Tzuyang’s side, acknowledging violations of personal rights and privacy. However, it rejected the request for indirect enforcement fines, stating that such remedies could be sought separately if circumstances arose. Dissatisfied, Tzuyang’s side immediately appealed, and the second-instance court partially upheld the appeal.
Last July, Garosero Research Institute conducted a broadcast exposing Tzuyang’s past. During the broadcast, Garosero Research Institute disclosed, without consent, a recording of YouTubers Gujeok and Jujak Gambyeolsa discussing how to extort money from Tzuyang using information about her private life, thereby revealing details about her past and personal matters. In response, Tzuyang shared during a live broadcast that she had suffered violence and exploitation from a former boyfriend.
Despite this, Garosero Research Institute continued its broadcasts, prompting Tzuyang’s side to file a lawsuit against Kim Se-ui and Garosero Research Institute for violations of the Stalking Punishment Act, intimidation, and coercion, as well as a request for an injunction to delete the videos.
Meanwhile, the police initially decided not to prosecute Kim Se-ui due to insufficient evidence, but following an objection from Tzuyang’s side, the prosecution ordered a supplementary investigation last month. The case is currently under investigation at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul.
