The Seoul Metropolitan Police issued a warning to members of the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute after the group defied a court-issued anti-stalking order and aired a livestream referencing actor Kim Soo-hyun.
The livestream, which began around 7 p.m. KST on June 13, featured Kim Soo-hyun's name and face in the thumbnail, prompting viewers to alert authorities.
Officers responded to the Sinsa-dong, Gangnam studio and reportedly delivered a verbal warning to Garo Sero Institute CEO Kim Se-ui and his team.
"They rang the doorbell during a live broadcast—this is a clear case of media oppression," Kim said during the stream, criticizing the police presence on air.
The controversy follows an April 23 decision by the Seoul Central District Court, which issued a temporary restraining order against Kim Se-ui.
The court found that Kim's repeated public remarks and videos about the actor constituted stalking. The order was upheld on appeal.
Kim Soo-hyun's legal team has accused Kim of spreading false claims that the actor had a relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor—allegations the actor has firmly denied.
In response, Kim Soo-hyun filed criminal charges for stalking, defamation, and violations of sexual violence laws.
A civil lawsuit seeking ₩12 billion KRW (approximately $8.7 million USD) in damages is also underway.
Authorities have already frozen portions of Garo Sero Institute's real estate holdings and donation accounts as part of the civil proceedings.
Despite the court order and public backlash, Kim Se-ui has continued to make controversial claims, including the alleged possession of audio recordings from a U.S.-based acquaintance of Kim Sae-ron.
He has held multiple press conferences to repeat these accusations.
The ongoing feud has sparked national debate over the ethical boundaries of online content creators and the effectiveness of Korea's anti-stalking laws.
Legal experts and fans alike have voiced concern about personal privacy, defamation, and the weaponization of media platforms for harassment.
The police haven't stated whether they will take further legal action after the latest broadcast, but the spokesman has admitted to the infraction and acknowledged receiving public complaints.
The case remains under active investigation.
