An auction proceeding has begun for a 50 percent stake in a Hanyang Apartment unit in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul, owned by Kim Se-ui, the head of the YouTube channel Hover Lab, who is currently being detained and standing trial on charges including defamation of actor Kim Soo-hyun.
According to legal sources, the Seoul Central District Court decided on September 17 to initiate auction proceedings for real estate registered in Kim’s name. The property, for which the application was filed on September 14, is a unit in Hanyang Apartment in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
The auction was initiated at the request of attorney Kim So-yeon, who claims that Kim has failed to pay approximately 120 million won in legal fees and other payments. Attorney Kim had previously applied for compulsory execution based on a payment order obtained through the Daejeon District Court.
However, multiple senior claims have already been registered against the apartment. The registry shows a mortgage held by Shinhan Bank (approximately 3.396 billion won registered in 2020 and an additional 360 million won in 2024), a provisional seizure of Kim Se-ui’s stake in the amount of 2 billion won by Gold Medalist, the agency representing Kim Soo-hyun, and two tax liens imposed by the Gangnam District Tax Office over unpaid national taxes totaling approximately 2.37 billion won. All of these claims were registered ahead of attorney Kim’s claim. The total amount of claims registered on the property is approximately 8.07 billion won.
According to the registry, the apartment was acquired in 1986 by Kim’s late father, Kim Young-su, a former MBC president. After Kim Young-su died in August 2024, Kim Se-ui and his older sister inherited the apartment, each receiving a 50 percent ownership stake.
Meanwhile, on September 10, the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, headed by Chief Prosecutor So Jeong-su, determined through an investigation that included tracing the sponsorship accounts of a company operated by Kim and questioning key individuals involved that Kim had acquired at least 169.4 million won in criminal proceeds in connection with the defamation case involving Kim Soo-hyun. The prosecution subsequently completed the registration of a preservation order over land owned by Kim.
A preservation order is a measure that prevents a defendant or suspect from disposing of specified assets in advance, in preparation for their potential confiscation or collection by the state.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)
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