Korean Press Condemns Garo Sero and Sulli’s Brother for Spreading Reckless Exposés That Harm Celebrities Like Cha Eun-woo, IU, and P.O, Triggering a Wave of Innocent Victims
South Korea’s entertainment world is buzzing with drama, and it’s all thanks to a YouTube channel called Garo Sero Institute and Sulli’s older brother. They’ve stirred up a storm with big claims about stars like Kim Soo-hyun, Cha Eun-woo, IU, and others. But their accusations are causing more harm than good, leaving fans and the public wondering what’s true. Here’s everything you need to know about this messy situation, broken down into simple, clear details.
The trouble started when Garo Sero, a channel known for bold and often unproven stories, claimed it was fighting to “restore the honor” of the late actress Kim Sae-ron. They’ve been dropping private photos, videos, and messages about her and Kim Soo-hyun, saying the two had a secret relationship that began when she was a minor. Then, Sulli’s brother jumped in, targeting Kim Soo-hyun over the 2017 movie Real and dragging other celebrities like IU, P.O, and Suzy into the mix with little proof. The result? A flood of rumors, lawsuits, and upset fans.
Talk about a wild ride! South Korea’s entertainment scene is no stranger to gossip, but this latest saga with Garo Sero and Sulli’s brother takes it to a whole new level. It’s like a drama series unfolding in real life—except the stakes are real careers and reputations. Let’s break it all down so you can keep up with the chaos.
Garo Sero’s Big Claims
Garo Sero Institute isn’t your average YouTube channel. With over 900,000 subscribers, it’s built a name by digging into scandals that mainstream media often skips. Run by Kim Se-ui, a former reporter, the channel mixes news with unfiltered opinions. Lately, they’ve zeroed in on Kim Soo-hyun, a huge star from Queen of Tears, accusing him of dating Kim Sae-ron when she was underage.
They didn’t stop at words. Garo Sero shared private stuff—photos of Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron together, videos of them hanging out, and even KakaoTalk chats. One video from 2018 allegedly shows them eating spicy chicken stew with soju, hinting he drank with her when she was 18. Another photo shows her asleep in bed, supposedly taken by him. They say this proves a six-year relationship starting when she was 15.
Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, hit back hard. They say the relationship only happened from 2019 to 2020, when Kim Sae-ron was 19—not a minor. They’ve filed lawsuits against Garo Sero and Kim Sae-ron’s family for spreading lies and sharing private images, asking for 12 billion won (about 9 million USD) in damages. Garo Sero keeps going, though, promising more “evidence” and mocking the legal threats.
Cha Eun-woo Caught in the Crossfire
The mess got bigger when Garo Sero dragged Cha Eun-woo, the ASTRO singer and actor, into it. They claimed he betrayed Kim Sae-ron by not showing up to her memorial after her death in February 2025. Kim Sae-ron, who died by suicide, was once under the same agency as Cha Eun-woo, Fantagio, and was close to his late bandmate Moonbin. Garo Sero’s host said Cha Eun-woo just sent a flower wreath and skipped the funeral, asking, “Don’t you feel ashamed?”
But hold on—another YouTuber stepped in and said Cha Eun-woo did visit the memorial, backed by people who saw him there. Garo Sero also accused Cha Eun-woo’s manager of leaking gambling photos of Kim Sae-ron to the press, tying it to a big outlet called Dispatch. No solid proof has come up, though, and fans are furious, calling it a cheap shot at his clean image.
Sulli’s Brother Adds Fuel
Just when you thought it couldn’t get crazier, Sulli’s brother, Choi Da-hee, joined the fray. Sulli, a beloved singer and actress who passed away in 2019, starred with Kim Soo-hyun in Real, a movie that got her flak for its bold scenes. Choi claimed those nude and bed scenes weren’t in the original plan and that Sulli was forced to do them, even though a body double was available. He pointed the finger at Kim Soo-hyun, saying he didn’t protect her.
Then he went wild, name-dropping stars like IU, P.O from Block B, Goo Hara, Suzy, and Ahn So-hee. He said IU gave Sulli the Real script after turning it down herself and hinted at messy ties between them all and Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist. No evidence came with these claims, and he later admitted some were off-base. Gold Medalist cleared up the Real story, saying the scenes were planned and Sulli agreed to them. Too late—the online hate had already spread.
The Fallout: Who’s Hurting?
This isn’t just gossip anymore—it’s a wrecking ball. Kim Soo-hyun’s reputation is taking a hit, with brands reportedly pulling back. He held a tearful press conference on March 31, 2025, denying the underage dating claims and saying he dated Kim Sae-ron years ago, not when she was a minor. Cha Eun-woo’s fans are defending him, but the rumors linger. IU, P.O, and others are dodging nasty comments from netizens who ran with the unproven stories.
Kim Sae-ron’s memory is getting trashed too. Critics say Garo Sero’s “honor” mission is a sham—sharing her private life like this keeps her from resting in peace. Sulli’s brother’s outburst reopened old wounds, leaving her fans upset all over again. An insider told the press, “This isn’t about truth anymore. It’s character assassination, plain and simple.”
What’s Next?
The Korean press is slamming Garo Sero and Choi for their reckless moves. Legal battles are heating up—Kim Soo-hyun’s team is pushing hard against the channel and Kim Sae-ron’s family, who’ve demanded an apology. Public opinion is split: some believe Garo Sero’s got the dirt, others see it as a cash grab by a shady outlet with a sketchy past. Choi’s backtracking hasn’t helped his case either.
For now, the stars caught up in this are laying low, letting lawyers sort it out. Fans are holding their breath, hoping their favorites come out okay. One thing’s clear—this scandal’s far from over, and it’s shaking up South Korea’s entertainment world big time.
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