"Kim Soo-hyun 180 billion won claim" blackmail... Kim Se-se's trial postponed to August 14 [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

The first court hearing for actor Kim Soo-hyun on charges including defamation by Kim Se-ui (CEO), the operator of the channel "Garo-Sero Research Institute" (hereinafter Garo-Sero), was suddenly postponed.

According to StarNews' investigation, Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 14 had planned to hold the first trial for Kim Se-ui (CEO) on charges including violation of the Information and Communication Network Act (defamation) on the 24th, but after Kim Se-se's side requested a postponement, it was ultimately rescheduled to August 14.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Women and Children Crime Investigation Division 2 (Chief Prosecutor Park Ji-na), arrested and indicted Kim Se-ui (CEO) on the 24th on charges including violation of the Information and Communication Network Act (defamation), violation of the Special Act on Punishment of Sexual Crimes (distribution of recordings made using cameras, etc.), and violation of the Stalking Punishment Act.

According to the indictment by Kim Chul, Kim Se-ui (CEO) threatened to distribute materials related to Kim Soo-hyun during a YouTube live broadcast, stating that "Kim Se-ui (CEO) claimed 'Kim Soo-hyun has been dating since Kim Sae-ron was in the second year of middle school,' among other statements," and broadcast false information via YouTube 25 times with the intent to slander Kim Soo-hyun, thereby damaging his reputation.

Additionally, it was alleged that __NAME_0__ publicly released photos exposing Kim Soo-hyun's lower body and stated, "There are other photos besides this. I will gradually reveal Kim Soo-hyun's shameless behavior," threatening to continuously release photos related to his private life unless he publicly apologized, and forcing him to admit his relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron and apologize.

Furthermore, Kim Se-ui (CEO) said, "I hope you know that the production company can claim 120 billion won or even 180 billion won in damages from Kim Soo-hyun," and threatened Kim Soo-hyun's side by claiming they would distribute materials related to him once his drama was released.

Kim Se-ui (CEO) is accused of spreading false information through YouTube live broadcasts and press conferences between March and May 2025, claiming that Kim Sae-ron had been in a relationship with adult Kim Soo-hyun for about six years since she was 15 years old as a minor, and that the direct cause of the late Kim Sae-ron's death was pressure from Kim Soo-hyun to repay debts.

Kim Se-se is also accused of using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate Kim Sae-ron's voice and fabricate false information, thereby damaging Kim Soo-hyun's reputation.

The court conducted a pre-trial investigation into the arrest warrant for Kim Se-se on May 26 and issued an arrest warrant citing concerns over evidence destruction and flight risk.

In the police application for the arrest warrant, it was stated that "the suspect knew well that there was no fact that Kim Soo-hyun had dated the deceased during her minor years and that the cause of the deceased's death did not lie with Kim Soo-hyun, yet distributed false information with the intent to slander."

It also stated, "On May 7 last year, during a press conference, the suspect played an AI-manipulated audio file of the deceased's voice and falsely claimed that 'the deceased had been in a relationship with the complainant since middle school and first had sexual relations during winter break in the second year of middle school.'"

Subsequently, Kim Se-se requested a review of the arrest warrant, but the court rejected the request, stating there was no grounds for it.

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*This content was translated by AI.