Actress Han Ye Seul recently returned to YouTube after an 18-month hiatus and addressed the personal and legal struggles that led her to step away from the public eye. In a candid video, she explained that her sudden move to the United States for several months was motivated by a desire to protect her boyfriend during an emotionally draining legal battle.
Han had been embroiled in a lawsuit against controversial YouTuber Kim Yong Ho, who made allegations about her connection to the Burning Sun scandal and claimed that her then-boyfriend, now husband, had worked at a host bar. The accusations sparked intense public scrutiny. Kim Yong Ho was later found dead in a Busan hotel in October 2023, with authorities ruling his death a suicide.
Han Reflects on Lawsuit Stress and Protecting Her Partner Abroad
Reflecting on his passing, Han expressed mixed emotions. She admitted she believed he might have been able to turn his life around and felt saddened that he lost that opportunity. At the same time, she spoke firmly about why she chose to pursue legal action. She described the court process as exhausting and mentally taxing, explaining that filing a lawsuit and preparing for trial required immense resilience. Despite the stress, she said she could not overlook what she viewed as deeply harmful and malicious remarks. She felt compelled to take a stand, believing the legal fight would either strengthen her or break her.
Han noted that while she had grown accustomed to public criticism due to her career, she was more concerned about the toll the controversy was taking on her partner. Fearing he was suffering silently, she decided to take him to America to give him distance from the negativity and to remind him that there was a larger world beyond the scandal. She shared that the change of environment helped him regain stability and happiness.
Now, Han says her husband is healthy and content, and she describes him as a source of comfort and healing in her life as she moves forward from a painful chapter.
