"Kim Soo-hyun Defamation Proceeds Total 170 Million Won": Prosecutors Freeze Hover Lab Chief Kim Se-ui’s Assets

[Financial News] Prosecutors have frozen approximately 170 million won in alleged criminal proceeds belonging to Kim Se-ui, head of Garo Sero Research Institute (Hover Lab), who was indicted in custody on charges including defaming actor Kim Soo-hyun.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said on the 15th that it completed the registration of a provisional seizure for forfeiture involving land owned by Kim Se-ui on the 10th. Provisional seizure for forfeiture is a measure that freezes assets before a judgment becomes final to prevent a defendant from concealing or disposing of proceeds obtained through crime.
The total amount of alleged criminal proceeds placed under provisional seizure for forfeiture by prosecutors was 169.4 million won. During the earlier police investigation, an application had been filed to preserve only about 5 million won for forfeiture. Prosecutors, however, tracked all of the donation accounts operated by Hover Lab and identified additional criminal proceeds.
After interviewing Hover Lab officials as witnesses and conducting asset searches, prosecutors determined that Kim Se-ui had obtained at least 54.4 million won in donations and 115 million won in advertising revenue through defamatory acts. They directly sought provisional seizure for forfeiture and obtained the court’s approval.
The provisional seizure for forfeiture initially requested by police was submitted to the court through prosecutors but was rejected in June. At the time, the court determined that preservation was unnecessary because the amount identified as criminal proceeds appeared small compared with the value of the real estate.
Prosecutors subsequently conducted an additional investigation, believing that Kim Se-ui may have obtained more criminal proceeds through the alleged defamation offenses.
Prosecutors also emphasized that after the criminal justice system overhaul takes effect on October 2, it will become difficult for them to conduct direct investigations for the provisional seizure for forfeiture of criminal proceeds in cases like this.
A prosecution official said, "Due to amendments to the relevant laws, after October 2 this year, prosecutors will no longer be able to conduct any investigations, including witness interviews and account tracking, to preserve criminal proceeds for forfeiture in cases like this one." The official added, "We will do our utmost to eliminate the fundamental incentives for crime by thoroughly depriving offenders of criminal proceeds until the very end."
 
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter