Kim Se Ui, CEO of Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon) and a former MBC reporter, has been found not guilty in a lawsuit filed by YouTuber Tzuyang (Park Jeong Won).

On the 4th, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul confirmed that the case in which Tzuyang accused Kim of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, intimidation, coercion, leaking business secrets, and violating the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, had been closed with no charges filed.

The police determined that Kim's broadcasts about Tzuyang did not constitute a violation of the Stalking Punishment Act or the Personal Information Protection Act, as Tzuyang, with 11.4 million subscribers, could be considered a celebrity or public figure.

Additionally, regarding Kim’s statement on Gaseyeon, "If you explain or apologize even now, I will stop broadcasting about Tzuyang," the police interpreted this as a request for clarification regarding allegations against Tzuyang—such as abortion, tax evasion, and work history in the entertainment industry—rather than a threat of harm. The authorities also noted that these allegations were a matter of public interest at the time.

Furthermore, as a public figure, Tzuyang’s alleged abortion under another person’s name and tax evasion accusations were considered matters punishable under the law, making demands for an apology or explanation a legitimate exercise of free speech.

In July of last year, Tzuyang filed a complaint against Kim with the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office, stating, "Gaseyeon’s claims are false, and Kim has engaged in excessive personal attacks, spreading false information not only about me but also about people around me."

Attorney Kim So Yeon of Hwang & C Law Firm, representing Kim, wrote on Facebook on the 4th:

"Tzuyang has been filing abusive lawsuits against both CEO Kim and even me, as the lawyer for Foot-and-Mouth-Yeok (Lee Jun Hee), but all she has achieved is a series of dismissed cases."

She further added, "Considering Tzuyang’s behavior, Foot-and-Mouth-Yeok should have filed at least ten lawsuits against Attorney Kim Tae Yeon (Tzuyang’s legal representative). I have already filed a lawsuit against Attorney Kim Tae Yeon for false testimony, and after discussions with Foot-and-Mouth-Yeok, I will review additional legal actions for defamation by Attorney Kim Tae Yeon and Tzuyang."

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