A judge in South Korea has approved an arrest warrant for a YouTube operator at the center of the legal fight involving the late actress Kim Sae Ron and actor Kim Soo Hyun. The court made the decision after prosecutors presented their case against the online creator.
The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant for Kim Se Ui, who runs the Garosero Research Institute YouTube channel. The decision came after a pre-arrest interrogation on May 26. The court agreed with prosecutors that there were enough concerns about evidence tampering and flight risk.
The case stems from a series of videos Kim Se Ui posted following Kim Sae Ron’s death in February 2025. The YouTuber made serious claims about a relationship between Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress. He said the relationship started when Kim Sae Ron was still a minor. He also claimed financial pressure from Kim Soo Hyun pushed the actress to take her own life.
Trigger Warning: This article discusses a legal case involving defamation and mentions of sensitive content following a person’s death.
Court Agrees with Prosecutors on Arrest
Judge Kim Hyung-min presided over the warrant hearing. The court spent about two hours reviewing evidence from the police investigation. The judge decided that Kim Se Ui’s actions met the legal requirements for detention.
The arrest warrant is not about the truth of the relationship claims. Instead, the court looked at whether Kim Se Ui broke the law by spreading information he knew was false. The charges include defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization. He also faces charges under the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes.
Police have been investigating this case for months. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency sent the case file to prosecutors in early May. The investigation included forensic analysis of an audio recording Kim Se Ui released. The recording allegedly captured Kim Sae Ron talking about her relationship with Kim Soo Hyun.
“The recording was manipulated. We have strong evidence that AI technology was used to create a false conversation,” Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team stated in a formal complaint filed with police.
The National Forensic Service examined the audio. Their report said it was impossible to determine if AI was used to manipulate the file. This inconclusive finding did not stop police from moving forward with the case against Kim Se Ui.
What Kim Se Ui Is Accused Of Doing
Kim Se Ui started posting videos about Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun in March 2025. He claimed to have inside information from the late actress’s family. In one video, he said Kim Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron for six years starting when she was 15 years old.
The YouTuber also organized a press conference with Kim Sae Ron’s family members. During that event, he played the now disputed audio recording. He said the recording proved the relationship started when Kim Sae Ron was a minor.
Police investigators found problems with Kim Se Ui’s claims. They discovered that some documents he presented as evidence did not match official records. The timeline he presented also conflicted with known facts about Kim Sae Ron’s activities during certain years.
Kim Soo Hyun admitted he dated Kim Sae Ron but gave a different timeline. The actor said they were in a relationship for about one year starting in 2019. He said Kim Sae Ron was 19 years old at that time, which is an adult under South Korean law.
Legal Troubles Pile Up for the YouTuber
Kim Se Ui is not new to legal problems. He has faced multiple defamation lawsuits before this case. His channel, Garosero Research Institute, became known for making controversial claims about Korean celebrities.
The current case is the most serious legal threat he has faced. If found guilty, the charges carry potential prison time. The Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes is especially severe. That law was created to protect victims of digital s*x crimes and illegal filming.
Police said Kim Se Ui refused to cooperate with parts of the investigation. He did not hand over requested devices that could have contained evidence. This refusal was one reason prosecutors asked for the arrest warrant.
The court’s decision means Kim Se Ui will stay in police custody while the investigation continues. Prosecutors now have time to build their case without worrying about evidence destruction. An indictment could come in the coming weeks.
The Damage Done to Kim Soo Hyun’s Career
Kim Soo Hyun has faced real career problems because of Kim Se Ui’s videos. The actor lost a major endorsement deal when a cosmetics company filed a damages lawsuit. They are asking for about 2.8 billion Korean won (roughly $2 million). The company claims Kim Soo Hyun broke his contract by failing to maintain proper public behavior.
His drama project Knock Off was put on hold during the controversy. The show’s production company decided to wait until the legal situation became clearer. There are now discussions about the show possibly releasing in early 2026 on Disney+. No official release date has been set.
The actor’s agency Gold Medalist has also felt the effects. Several actors and staff members left the company as the legal problems continued. The agency has spent significant resources on legal fees and public relations work.
Kim Soo Hyun broke down in tears during a press conference about the situation. He said he was unable to contact Kim Sae Ron before her death. He expressed regret that he could not help her during her difficult times.
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What Happens Next in the Legal Process
Kim Se Ui will remain in detention as prosecutors prepare their formal charges. South Korean law allows for up to 20 days of detention before an indictment must be filed. The prosecution is expected to use this time to gather more evidence.
Police have already interviewed more than 30 witnesses in the case. These include people who knew both Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun during the claimed relationship period. Investigators also looked at phone records and other digital evidence.
The court case, if it goes to trial, could take months to complete. Both sides would present evidence and call witnesses. Kim Soo Hyun may be asked to testify about his relationship with Kim Sae Ron. Kim Se Ui has the right to defend himself against all charges.
The arrest of a YouTube creator for content about celebrities is rare in South Korea. The case has drawn attention to the limits of online speech about public figures. Legal experts say this case could set important rules for how far creators can go when making claims about celebrities.
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Source: Naver
