{{Short description|South Korean YouTube channel}} {{Infobox company | name = Hover Lab | logo = Hover Lab logo.jpg | founded = {{start date and age|2018|08}} | founders = {{Plainlist| * {{ill|Kim Se-ui|ko|김세의}} * Kang Yongseok }} | module = {{Infobox social media personality|embed=yes | youtube_handle = @HOVERLAB2018 | youtube_display_name = Hover Lab | youtube_subscribers = 991,000 | youtube_views = 170 million | stats_update = May 23, 2026 }} {{Infobox Korean/auto|child=yes |hangul=^가로_세로_연구소 }} | website = {{URL|https://hoverlab2018.com}} }}
'''Hover Lab''',{{Efn|YouTube channel uses this spelling, capitalization, and spacing. Sometimes stylized as '''HoverLab'''.}} also known as '''Garo Sero Research Institute''' ({{Korean|hangul=가로세로연구소}}{{efn|Sometimes abbreviated in Korean as '''Gaseyeon''' ({{lang|ko|가세연}}).<ref name="chosun2026">{{cite news |url=https://www.chosun.com/national/court_law/2026/05/20/LOCJH2ZD4BFGZAHMF55DUBO6TQ/ |title=가세연 김세의 구속 기로… 배우 김수현 명예훼손 혐의 |author=강지은 |date=2026-05-20 |language=ko |newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo |access-date=2026-05-23}}</ref>}}),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Son |first=Sung-bae |date=2026-02-18 |title=Kim Soo-hyun investigation in 'final stages' nearly a year after allegations |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-02-18/national/socialAffairs/Kim-Soohyun-investigation-in-final-stages-nearly-a-year-after-allegations/2524412 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=koreajoongangdaily.joins.com |language=en}}</ref> is a South Korean YouTube channel and think tank.
Hover Lab is widely considered to promote far-right political views,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Hae-rin |date=2022-01-21 |title=Right-wing YouTube channel suspended for spreading misinformation on COVID-19 |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20220121/right-wing-youtube-channel-suspended-for-spreading-misinformation-on-covid-19 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shim |first=Woo-sam |date=2024-12-19 |title=Yoon's fall from grace down the rabbit hole of far-right YouTube |url=https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/1174023.html |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=The Hankyoreh |language=}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite news |author=김다영 |date=2022-05-27 |title='조민 몰카' 가세연, 3개월 수익정지 당했다…이유는 '괴롭힘' |url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25074745 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=JoongAng Ilbo |language=ko}}</ref> and has promoted misleading or fabricated information about celebrities, politicians, and politics on a number of occasions.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Jun-young |date=2025-08-20 |title=Far-right YouTubers fined for claiming President Lee had child from affair |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-08-20/national/socialAffairs/Farright-YouTubers-fined-for-claiming-President-Lee-had-child-from-affair/2380049 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |language=en}}</ref> It and its members have been found liable or guilty of a number of defamation lawsuits and criminal complaints. For example, its members lost cases brought by current South Korean president Lee Jae Myung and politician Cho Kuk. The organization is also currently facing several lawsuits and complaints, including several from YouTuber Tzuyang and actor Kim Soo-hyun.
The organization was founded by reporter {{Ill|Kim Se-ui|ko|김세의}} and lawyer and politician Kang Yongseok. Kang's law license was suspended until 2030 after he was convicted of violating election law. Journalist {{Ill|Kim Yong-ho (journalist)|lt=Kim Yong-ho|ko|김용호 (기자)}} was also a long-time contributor, until 2023, when he committed suicide after being convicted of sexual assault.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Yong-ho |title=Youtuber and ex-journalist Kim Yong-ho, 47, found dead in Busan |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-10-12/national/socialAffairs/Youtuber-and-exjournalist-Kim-Yongho-47-found-dead-in-Busan/1888609 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |access-date=27 May 2026}}</ref>
== History ==
=== Establishment === {{Multiple image | total_width = 320 | image1 = 김세의 기자.jpg | image2 = Kang Yong-suk.png | image3 = 김용호 기자.jpg | footer = {{Ill|Kim Se-ui|ko|김세의}} (left) and Kang Yongseok (middle), as well as long-time contributor {{ill|Kim Yong-ho (journalist)|ko|김용호 (기자)|lt=Kim Yong-ho}} (right) }} Hover Lab was established in August 2018 by reporter {{Ill|Kim Se-ui|ko|김세의}} and lawyer Kang Yongseok.<ref name="chosun2026" />
Kim was formerly a reporter at Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). According to a ''Media Today'' report, Kim had once been the chairman of the MBC labor union, but had become increasingly controversial due to his far-right leanings and remarks. Near the end of his time there, he was subject to an internal company investigation. Amidst the investigation, he quit the company and announced that he would found Hover Lab.<ref>{{Cite news |author=노지민 |date=2018-08-02 |title=김세의 MBC 기자 '사직의 변' 두고 시끌 |url=https://www.mediatoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=143917&page=4&total=145 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Media Today |language=ko}}</ref> Months after his departure, MBC announced that it had concluded Kim had falsified many interviews he published during his time at MBC.<ref>{{Cite news |author=이도연 |date=2018-10-01 |title=MBC 정상화위원회 "김세의 재직 당시 인터뷰 다수 조작" |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20181001161200005 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Yonhap News Agency |language=ko}}</ref>
Kang is a lawyer (law license currently suspended<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |author=강경윤 |date=2025-12-09 |title='가세연' 강용석, 김건모 성폭행 의혹 방송 후폭풍에 뒤늦은 사과 |url=https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1008361718 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Seoul Broadcasting System}}</ref>) and politician. While he was elected to the National Assembly in 2008, he was expelled from the Grand National Party in 2010 after making remarks to a female student that were viewed as sexual harassment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-02-22 |title=정치재기 노리던 '저격수' 강용석, 결국 사퇴 |url=https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1001094511 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Seoul Broadcasting System |language=ko}}</ref> He tried to rejoin that party (then called "Saenuri Party") in 2016, but was rejected.<ref>{{Cite news |author=김영신 |date=2016-01-31 |title=새누리당사서 쫓겨난 강용석, 가까스로 출마선언은 했지만… |url=https://www.news1.kr/politics/assembly/2561231 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=뉴스1 |language=ko}}</ref>
Kim and Kang had known each other for years prior and shared many political views; they vowed to create an organization that would rejuvenate South Korea's right wing.<ref>{{Cite web |author=이유진 |first= |date=2018-08-12 |title=전 MBC 기자 김세의X강용석 변호사 '보수단체 설립'…후원금 독려 포스터 게재 |url=https://sports.khan.co.kr/article/201808121127003?pt=nv |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=스포츠경향 |language=ko}}</ref>
Some time afterwards, entertainment journalist {{Ill|Kim Yong-ho (journalist)|lt=Kim Yong-ho|ko|김용호 (기자)}} joined the channel and became a regular.<ref>{{Cite news |author=김혜인 |date=2023-10-12 |title=가세연 출연했던 유튜버 김용호, 부산 호텔서 극단 선택 |url=http://weekly.chosun.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=29415 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231013214534/http://weekly.chosun.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=29415 |archive-date=2023-10-13 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Weekly Chosun |language=ko}}</ref>
=== Early activities === In October 2018, Kang was sentenced to one year in prison for forging documents in an unrelated case. Kim Se-ui criticized the ruling and vowed to continue broadcasting while Kang served his sentence.<ref>{{Cite web |author=문지영 |date=2018-10-25 |title="이런 나라가 있나" 강용석 구속에 가로세로 연구소 측 반응 |url=https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0103_201810251340068534 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=YTN |language=ko}}</ref>
By 2019, the Hover Lab YouTube channel had become one of the most significant conservative channels in the country.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Hyun-kyung |date=2019-12-15 |title=Singer's scandal turns right-wingers against each other |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/20191215/singers-scandal-turns-right-wingers-against-each-other |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}</ref> Hover Lab had the highest YouTube super chat (donation) revenues of any channel in the world in June 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |author=정철운 |date=2020-06-08 |title=유튜브 '슈퍼챗' 전 세계 1위는 '가로세로연구소' |url=https://www.mediatoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=207512 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250827135246/https://www.mediatoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=207512 |archive-date=2025-08-27 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Media Today |language=ko}}</ref> Also, into the early 2020s, YouTube began to play a critical role in South Korean politics, which Hover Lab benefitted greatly from.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=2022-07-07 |title=세력 불리는 보수 유튜브, 집권 여당에서는 외면한다고? |url=https://www.sisain.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=47828 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220709070916/https://www.sisain.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=47828 |archive-date=2022-07-09 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=시사IN, 시사인 |language=ko}}</ref>
Hover Lab was a cocreator of the 2021 biographical musical theater production ''Musical Park Chung Hee''. The musical celebrates the life of South Korean leader Park Chung Hee, whom is a controversial but popular figure among South Korean conservatives.<ref>{{Cite news |author=정성남 |date=2021-03-05 |title=황보승희 "뮤지컬박정희...한국 현대사의 역사 재조명, 뜻 깊은 시간" |url=https://www.fntoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=249610 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=FN Today |language=ko}}</ref>
On September 7, 2021, Kang and the two Kims were arrested for not complying with questionings pertaining to 10 lawsuits they were the targets of. While Kim Yong-ho was arrested quickly, the other two refused to comply with police and were only arrested after a ten-hour standoff.<ref>{{Cite web |author=김범주 |date=2021-09-07 |title=경찰, '가로세로연구소' 강용석·김세의·김용호 체포 |url=https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/pc/view/view.do?ncd=5274516 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=Korean Broadcasting System |language=ko}}</ref>
In January 2022, Hover Lab's YouTube channel was suspended for one week for violating the platform's COVID-19 misinformation policies. This was in relation to a January 12 video by Hover Lab in which they forwarded vaccine skepticism.<ref name=":0" /> After a broadcast in which they attempted to ascertain medical information about politician Cho Kuk's daughter, YouTube deemed the activity harassment and suspended the channel in May 2022 for a week and blocked monetization for three months thereafter.<ref name=":8" />
=== Kang Yongseok departure and Kim Yong-ho suicide === By mid-2022, the group was experiencing financial difficulties, and a feud between Kim Se-ui and Kang Yongseok became publicly visible. Around this time, Kang had lowered his involvement in the organization while running to become governor of Gyeonggi Province.<ref>{{Cite web |author=조광형 |date=2022-05-31 |title=[단독 인터뷰] 김세의 "강용석, '예정에 없던' 김은혜 공격… 단일화 깨졌다" |url=https://www.newdaily.co.kr/site/data/html/2022/05/31/2022053100124.html |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=뉴데일리 |language=ko}}</ref> Kang unsuccessfully ran as a competitor to the People Power Party candidate Kim Eun-hye, a fellow conservative, in the 2022 election. He was accused of causing the spoiler effect because he received more votes than the margin by which Kim Eun-hye lost by, which led to conservative backlash against Kang and Hover Lab.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite news |author=하수영 |date=2022-06-02 |title="후원 취소" 가세연 구독 뚝…이 와중에 강용석-김세의 내분 |url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25076315 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=JoongAng Ilbo |language=ko}}</ref> Due to this feud, Kang began broadcasting on his own channel, and Kim Se-ui continued to run Hover Lab.<ref name=":6" />
On December 7, 2022, Kim announced that he had filed a criminal complaint against Kang. He alleged, among other claims, that Kang had changed the distribution of their company shares without his consent in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |author=김현덕 |date=2022-12-08 |title='가세연' 김세의, 결국 강용석 고소…이유 봤더니 |url=https://www.hankyung.com/article/2022120824687 |access-date=2026-05-23 |newspaper=The Korea Economic Daily |language=ko}}</ref>
Kim Yong-ho committed suicide on October 13, 2023, a day after he was convicted for a sexual assault case unrelated to his Hover Lab activities.<ref>{{Cite web |author=김광수 |date=2023-10-12 |title='가세연' 출연 유튜버 김용호, 부산 호텔서 숨진 채 발견 |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/area/yeongnam/1111843.html |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=The Hankyoreh |language=ko}}</ref> While Kang expressed sympathy for Kim Yong-ho's death, Kim Se-ui disavowed Kim Yong-ho as a criminal that extorted money from others. Kim Se-ui also called for the police to continue investigating Kang.<ref>{{Cite news |author=류원혜 |date=2023-10-13 |title=김용호 사망에 강용석 "황망한 마음"…김세의 "끝까지 거짓말" |url=https://www.mt.co.kr/society/2023/10/13/2023101310240360684 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Money Today |language=ko}}</ref>
=== Recent activities === Hover Lab has been a longtime supporter of former president Yoon Suk Yeol.<ref>{{Cite news |author=이보라 |date=2025-01-02 |title=정치에 침투한 극단의 목소리…공론장에서 음모론 무력화해야 ③ |url=https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202501021422021 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Kyunghyang Shinmun}}</ref> After Yoon declared martial law in December 2024, Hover Lab hosted a rally in defense of Yoon and protested Yoon's impeachment.<ref>{{Cite news |author=장연주 |date=2025-01-09 |title='계엄 옹호' 뭇매 맞더니, 또?…차강석, 국힘 김민전 의원과 찰칵 “의원님, 나라 지켜주세요” |url=https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10386427 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=HeraldBiz}}</ref> Hover Lab also promoted conspiracy theories about Chinese agents infiltrating the pro-impeachment rallies.<ref>{{Cite news |author=정인선 |date=2024-12-26 |title='아이유는 간첩' 극우 유튜버들 12·3 이후 가짜뉴스·음모론 더 기승 |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/1174874.html |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=The Hankyoreh |language=ko}}</ref>
In February 2026, Hover Lab and Kim Se-ui received approval to seize the home of former conservative president Park Geun-hye after she failed to repay a debt.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-02-05 |title=Former South Korean president Park Geun-hye's home seized over unpaid debt |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/former-south-korean-president-park-geun-hyes-home-seized-over-unpaid-debt |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>
== Legal disputes ==
=== Kang Gi-jung case === In an October 2019 video, Hover Lab cited politician Kang Gi-jung as having shared some information pertaining to the 2019 {{Ill|Cho Kuk scandal|ko|조국 사태}}, but Kang denied this and filed a defamation suit. Kang eventually won the suit in July 2022, and the two Kims and Kang of Hover Lab were made to pay restitution.<ref>{{Cite web |author=박준규 |date=2022-07-14 |title='강기정 명예훼손' 가세연 500만 원 배상 확정-정치 |url=https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/A2022071409150000178 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=Hankook Ilbo |language=ko}}</ref>
=== Kim Gun-mo case === On December 8, 2019, Hover Lab promoted an allegation by a woman who claimed that she had been raped by famous singer Kim Gun-mo. Kim Gun-mo denied the charges and filed a lawsuit against the woman.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Park |first1=Si-Soo |last2=Dong |first2=Sun-Hwa |date=December 8, 2019 |title=Singer Kim Gun-mo embroiled in sexual assault scandal |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2019/12/732_279960.html |access-date=December 10, 2019 |website=The Korea Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Park |first=Si-soo |date=December 9, 2019 |title=Kim Gun-mo accused of rape |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2019/12/732_280004.html |access-date=December 10, 2019 |website=The Korea Times}}</ref> The allegations severely affected Kim's career.<ref name=":7" /> In 2022, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office dismissed the rape charge against Kim Gun-mo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Ji-an |date=June 14, 2022 |title=Prosecutors dismiss rape charge against singer Kim Gun-mo |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/06/14/entertainment/kpop/Korea-Kim-Gunmo-Rape/20220614131214634.html |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily}}</ref> In December 2025, Kang issued a public apology to Kim Gun-mo.<ref name=":7" />
=== Cho Won case === In an August 22, 2019 video, Hover Lab alleged that politician Cho Kuk's son Cho Won ({{Lang|ko|조원}}) had sexually harassed a female student but had his mother, Jeong Gyeong-sim ({{Lang|ko|정경심}}), a professor at Dongyang University, manipulate the scenario to portray her son as being bullied. In response, in August 2020, Cho Kuk filed a lawsuit and complaint to the police against Kang Yongseok and Kim Se-ui. In January 2025, the Supreme Court found Kang and Kim liable in the lawsuit, and ordered them to pay restitution to the Cho family. The complaint to police was forwarded to prosecutors in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |author=강지은 |date=2026-05-01 |title=검찰, '조국 아들 명예훼손' 강용석·김세의 불구속 기소 |url=https://www.chosun.com/national/court_law/2026/05/01/6HW7KEZM7ZHEPB672TC4KO27EE/ |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=The Chosun Ilbo |language=ko}}</ref> On May 1, 2026, Kang and Kim were indicted by police without detention.<ref>{{Cite news |author=김지은 |date=2026-05-01 |title=검찰, 조국 아들 명예훼손 혐의 강용석·김세의 불구속 기소 |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/1256864.html |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=The Hankyoreh |language=ko}}</ref>
=== Outdoor interview case === A 2020 outdoor interview that Kang and Kim held with 14 conservative candidates was found to be in violation of election law, as the interview took place outdoors (they are required to take place indoors) and three days prior to the campaign season. After several trials, in August 2024 the Supreme Court ruled that Kang and Kim were to each pay fines of ₩2 million.<ref>{{Cite news |author=김나연 |date=2024-08-01 |title='총선 후보자 옥외 대담' 가세연 김세의·강용석, 대법서 벌금형 확정 |url=https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202408011200021 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Kyunghyang Shinmun |language=ko}}</ref>
=== Lee Jae Myung case === On November 9, 2021, Kim Se-ui and Kang Yongseok alleged that then presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung had had a child from an extramarital affair, that he had had a physical altercation with his wife Kim Hea Kyung, and that he had been in a juvenile detention facility. Lee Jae Myung sued Hover Lab on grounds of defamation. In August 2025, Kim and Kang were found liable for falsifying the extramarital affair claim and ordered to pay ₩7 million (US$5,000) and ₩10 million (US$7,200) respectively as restitution. The remaining two claims were deemed to be uncertain enough to not be outright falsehoods.<ref name=":1" /> In December 2025, the juvenile detention facility claim was also determined to be misleading, and Kang's sentence was increased to one year in prison, suspended for two years, and 40 hours of community service.<ref>{{Cite web |author=이실유 |first= |title="李대통령, 소년원 다녀와" 발언한 강용석, 2심서 집유 |url=https://www.kyeonggi.com/article/20251203580329 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=경기일보 |language=ko}}</ref>
=== Lee Jun-seok case === {{See also|Lee Jun-seok#Ethics investigation, suspension, and ouster (2022–2023)}} In December 2021, Hover Lab alleged that politician Lee Jun-seok had received sexual favors as bribes in 2013. Lee denied the allegations and announced that he would pursue legal action against Hover Lab.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Na-young |date=2022-07-08 |title=Ruling party suspends leader's party membership over sexual bribery scandal |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220707009151315 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260105170453/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220707009151315 |archive-date=2026-01-05 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Yonhap News Agency |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Arin |date=2022-04-22 |title=People Power Party convenes ethics committee over claims Lee Jun-seok accepted sexual favors |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/2849264 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en}}</ref> In September 2022, police announced that Lee would not be investigated, as the seven-year statute of limitations had expired. However, it did announce that Lee would be investigated over whether he made false accusations against Hover Lab.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hwang |first=Jang-jin |date=2022-10-13 |title=(LEAD) Ex-PPP leader Lee referred to prosecution for making false accusation |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20221013008451315 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Yonhap News Agency}}</ref> Ultimately, this scandal led to Lee being suspended from the People Power Party from July 2022 to November 2023.<ref name="Sexual bribery suspension, Hankyoreh">{{cite web |title=PPP ethics panel hands party leader Lee Jun-seok 6-month suspension |url=https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/1050239.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709002707/https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/1050239.html |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=The Hankyoreh}}</ref><ref name="suspension removed">{{cite news |date=2 November 2023 |script-title=ko:국민의힘 홍준표, 이준석 징계 취소 결정 |url=https://www.tbc.co.kr/news/view?pno=20231102094904AE05766&id=182491 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103124739/https://www.tbc.co.kr/news/view?pno=20231102094904AE05766&id=182491 |archive-date=November 3, 2023 |access-date=3 November 2023 |work=TBC News |language=ko}}</ref>
=== Journalist organizations case === On January 20, 2022, the organizations {{Ill|Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media|ko|민주언론시민연합}}, {{Ill|National Union of Media Workers|ko|전국언론노동조합}}, and Journalists Association of Korea held a press conference in which they urged Google Korea to regulate the activities of organizations they felt were harmful on Google platforms, including Hover Lab. In response, Hover Lab alleged defamation and filed a lawsuit against several officials of those organizations. The lawsuit was dismissed in February 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |author=금준경 |date=2025-02-13 |title=가세연 또 패소했다 |url=https://www.mediatoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=324285 |access-date=2026-05-23 |work=Media Today |language=ko}}</ref>
=== Tzuyang case === In July 2024, YouTuber Tzuyang filed a complaint against Kim Se-ui and Hover Lab for defamation, intimidation, and coercion relating to videos posted about her on the Hover Lab channel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-16 |title=YouTuber Tzuyang walks out of police questioning over stalking case against Hoverlab's Kim Se-ui |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20250416/youtuber-tzuyang-walks-out-of-police-questioning-over-stalking-case-against-hoverlabs-kim-se-ui |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}</ref> After initially declining to pursue an investigation, the prosecution reversed the decision after Tzuyang's legal team filed an objection. In April 2025, Hover Lab was ordered to take down videos that mentioned Tzuyang.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Han |first=Young-hye |date=2025-04-17 |title=Court orders Hoverlab to remove Tzuyang-related video content |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-17/national/socialAffairs/Court-orders-Hoverlab-to-remove-Tzuyangrelated-video-content/2287878 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |language=en}}</ref> As of March 2026, the case is still ongoing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hyeon |first=Ye-seul |date=2026-03-31 |title=Prosecutors indict Hoverlab operator Kim Se-ui on charges to stalking, threatening Tzuyang |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-03-31/national/socialAffairs/Prosecutors-indict-Hoverlab-operator-Kim-Seui-on-charges-to-stalking-threatening-Tzuyang/2558181 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |language=en}}</ref>
=== Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron case === {{See also|Kim Soo-hyun#Kim Sae-ron dispute|Kim Sae-ron#Relationship}} Following the 2025 death of celebrity Kim Sae-ron, in March 2025, Kim Sae-ron's family and Hover Lab alleged that she had been in a sexual relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun even while Sae-ron had been underage.<ref name=":4" /> This led to widespread public and professional backlash against Kim Soo-hyun.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2025 |title=Kim Soo-hyun faces backlash amid dating scandal with late actress |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2025/03/398_394055.html |access-date=March 14, 2025 |website=The Korea Times}}</ref><ref name="brands">{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Ju-yeon |date=March 13, 2025 |title=Brands pull Kim Soo-hyun ads amid Kim Sae-ron allegations |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-13/business/industry/Brands-begin-pulling-Kim-Soohyun-ads-amid-Kim-Saeron-allegations/2261250 |access-date=March 14, 2025 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily}}</ref> Soo-hyun disputed the claim and filed a lawsuit against Hover Lab and Sae-ron's family.<ref name=":4" />
On April 23, 2025, Hover Lab was ordered by the Seoul Central District Court to stop discussing Kim Soo-hyun in their videos. Hover Lab appealed the order, but the appeal was denied. In June 2025, police interrupted a Hover Lab livestream as Kim Se-ui was about to discuss Kim Soo-hyun and warned him not to violate the order again.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-16 |title=Cops intervene in Hoverlab livestream about Kim Soo-hyun |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-06-16/entertainment/television/Cops-intervene-Hoverlab-livestream-about-Kim-Soohyun/2330996 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=koreajoongangdaily.joins.com |language=en}}</ref>
Kim Se-ui also alleged that Kim Soo-hyun had Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) reporter Kang Gyeong-yun ({{Lang|ko|강경윤}}) fly to the United States to intimidate an alleged whistleblower on Kim Sae-ron's and Kim Soo-hyun's supposed relationship.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-09 |title=SBS reporter files complaint against YouTuber over audio clip of Kim Sae-ron |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20250509/sbs-reporter-files-complaint-against-youtuber-over-audio-clip-of-kim-sae-ron |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-20 |title=No arrest in alleged attack on whistleblower tied to late Kim Sae-ron, says Korean consulate in New York |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/20250520/no-arrest-in-alleged-attack-on-whistleblower-tied-to-late-kim-sae-ron-says-korean-consulate-in-new-york |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=Xportsnews |language=en |via=The Korea Times}}</ref> The alleged whistleblower shared images of an injury they claimed to have received during the process, but Kim Soo-hyun's legal team countered that the image was "easily found through an internet search".<ref name=":3" /> In May 2025, Kang Gyeong-yun released her immigration records, which showed she had not left South Korea, and filed a criminal complaint against Kim Se-ui.<ref name=":2" />
On May 22, 2026, the Gangnam Police Station announced that it had concluded Hover Lab's supposed evidence of Kim Soo-hyun having dated Kim Sae-ron while underage was fabricated, and that it was seeking an arrest warrant for Kim Se-ui.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Han |first=Young-won |last2=Won |first2=Jong-bin |date=2026-05-21 |title=Prosecution Seeks Arrest of Hoverlab Rep for Fabricated Evidence |url=https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2026/05/21/QXTYNGQ63JCM3LHW5KUMNV56NY/ |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=The Chosun Daily |language=en}}</ref>
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:2018 establishments in South Korea Category:Far-right politics in South Korea Category:Companies based in Seoul Category:South Korean YouTubers Category:Right-wing think tanks Category:Political and economic think tanks based in South Korea Category:Think tanks established in 2018 Category:Political YouTube channels Category:Fake news websites Category:COVID-19 misinformation