During a National Assembly hearing on October 30, YouTuber Eun Hyun-jang, known for his channel “Master of Business” (장사의 신), testified as a witness to expose the destructive actions of cyber racketeers and called for stronger laws to combat online defamation and fabricated evidence.
Eun Hyun-jang revealed that he had been the target of false accusations by Kim Se-ui, the head of Garosero Research Institute, since January 2024.
“For a year, Kim Se-ui spread lies about me calling me a Chinese agent, a scammer, and involved in stock manipulation,” Eun Hyun-jang stated. “Because of those baseless attacks, my company, which once made ₩10 billion in annual sales, went bankrupt. I had to let go of employees, and partner companies also collapsed.”
He explained that these YouTube “rackers” don’t care about truth or evidence “They only care about clicks and money. Lies that attract attention become income.”
Eun Hyun-jang’s testimony grew more explosive as he directly accused Kim Se-ui of fabricating evidence in the high-profile case involving actor Kim Soo-hyun.
“Kim Se-ui held three so-called ‘press conferences’ where he presented fake evidence fabricated KakaoTalk messages, doctored photos, and even AI-generated audio clips,” Eun Hyun-jang said. “Because of these lies, Kim Soo-hyun’s reputation was destroyed. He lost endorsements and is still fighting lawsuits with advertisers.”
Eun Hyun-jang emphasized that his team and fellow YouTubers had uncovered the falsity of the “evidence,” saying, “These are investigations the state should be doing, but private citizens like us are the ones proving the truth.”
Addressing the Science, Technology, Broadcasting, and Communication Committee, Eun Hyun-jang urged lawmakers to introduce punitive damages for creators who deliberately spread false information online.
“I’ve seen their financial records after buying 50% of one of Kim Se-ui’s companies they were raking in billions from YouTube and sponsorships,” Eun Hyun-jang revealed. “Yet even if caught, they pay a ₩300,000 fine. Who wouldn’t keep doing it? That’s why we need punitive damages.”
He also criticized how slow the Korean justice system is to process defamation cases, saying it takes nearly three years to determine guilt long after reputations and livelihoods have already been destroyed.
Eun Hyun-jang further raised alarm about the rise of AI-based defamation, where altered voices and images are used to fabricate content.
“To fight AI racketeers, you have to use the U.S. discovery system and hire both Korean and foreign lawyers. It costs at least ₩200 million per case,” he lamented. “How can an average person fight that kind of injustice?”
He concluded his statement with a plea: “People decide someone’s guilt in 10 seconds after watching a short clip. Please, wait for the truth. Your judgment can destroy a person’s life.”
Committee Chair Choi Min-hee acknowledged Eun Hyun-jang’s testimony and referenced the pending “Anti-Fake Information Act”, saying it aligns with his proposal, widely dubbed the “Garo Sero Institution Prevention Law.”
Eun Hyun-jang agreed, stressing again: “Only punitive damage laws can stop cyber racketeers. Without real consequences, more people will suffer like me and like Kim Soo-hyun.”
This explosive testimony has reignited public debate about YouTube misinformation, AI deepfake abuse, and the lack of accountability in Korea’s online media environment. The National Assembly is now under pressure to tighten legal oversight of digital platforms — a move that could reshape the landscape of Korea’s cyber defamation laws in 2026.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스