This article is part of our coverage of Kim Soo Hyun And Kim Sae Ron's Relationship. You can read more and view the entire timeline here.
Actor Kim Soo Hyun‘s side has been revealed to have raised the level of their response, just as the actor has been cleared of being the party involved in Kim Sae Ron‘s KakaoTalk messages.
According to a report by JoongAng Ilbo on October 20th, Kim Soo Hyun’s side recently requested the closure of the Garosero Research Institute channel on YouTube, citing violations of YouTube’s policies on harassment and cyberbullying.
Earlier, on the 3rd, they also requested the deletion of 30 videos related to Kim Soo Hyun posted on the channel. However, despite the request, the videos remain publicly accessible. As a result, Kim Soo Hyun’s side has moved from seeking individual video removal to demanding action against the entire channel to prevent the spread of related content.
Kim Soo Hyun’s legal representatives stated, “It has been confirmed through investigation that Garosero Research Institute defamed the actor and threatened him based on false evidence such as AI-manipulated voice recordings,” emphasizing that the channel must be promptly shut down to stop secondary damage.
They stressed that if content containing false information continues to circulate, the harm could be repeated, making a swift response from the platform necessary.
Kim Se Ui, the head of Garosero Research Institute, claimed in a YouTube broadcast that Kim Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron since her minor years and, through legal professionals, threatened Kim Sae Ron, leading to her death. The prosecution judged that Kim Se Ui distributed false information to defame Kim Soo Hyun and arrested and indicted him in June.
Separately from the criminal proceedings, Kim Soo Hyun’s side is also pursuing legal action to block the distribution of related content. On the 22nd of last month, they filed with the court to delete videos and ban their posting; a hearing date is set for the 4th of next month. Attention is focused on whether the court’s decision will limit the posting and circulation of related videos.
However, until the court’s decision is issued, the videos are likely to remain online. Kim Soo Hyun’s side maintains that while the content remains, additional defamation and secondary harm may occur. Therefore, alongside legal procedures and investigative agency findings, they are also demanding proactive measures such as channel closure and video deletion from YouTube.
Ultimately, the key issue is whether YouTube will accept Kim Soo Hyun’s requests. With demands extending beyond individual video removal to channel closure, attention is on how the platform will judge potential violations of related policies.