"I cannot acknowledge anything at all." Kim Se-ah, arrested for defamation of Kim Soo-hyun, to face court next week [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

What arguments will Kim Se-ui (CEO), the operator of the channel run by Garo-Sero Research Institute (hereinafter "Gaseoyeon"), present at the first trial regarding charges including defamation of actor Kim Soo-hyun?

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 14 is scheduled to hold the first trial for Kim Se-ui (CEO) on charges including violation of the Information and Communication Network Act (defamation) on the 14th.

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

From March to May 2025, Kim Se-ui (CEO) is accused of spreading false information through YouTube live broadcasts and press conferences, claiming that the late Kim Sae-ron had been in a relationship with adult Kim Soo-hyun for about six years since she was a minor at age 15, and that the direct cause of her death was pressure from Kim Soo-hyun to repay debts. Additionally, Kim Se-ui (CEO) is also accused of fabricating false information by manipulating the late Kim Sae-ron's voice using generative artificial intelligence (AI), thereby damaging Kim Soo-hyun's reputation.

The court conducted a pre-trial detention hearing for Kim Se-ah on May 26 and issued an arrest warrant citing concerns over evidence destruction and flight risk. At that time, the police stated in the arrest warrant application that "Kim Se-ui (CEO) was well aware that there was no fact of Kim Soo-hyun having dated the late Kim Sae-ron during her minor years and that Kim Soo-hyun was not the cause of Kim Sae-ron's death, yet distributed false information with the intent to slander." It also stated that "On May 7, 2025, during a press conference, Kim Se-ui (CEO) played an AI-manipulated audio file of the deceased and falsely claimed that 'the late Kim Sae-ron had been in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun since middle school and had their first sexual encounter during the winter break of her second year of middle school.'"

Subsequently, Kim Se-ui (CEO) filed an appeal against the detention order, but the court rejected it, stating there was no grounds for the request.

The Prosecutors' Office stated in the indictment that Kim Se-ui (CEO) threatened to release materials related to Kim Soo-hyun during YouTube live broadcasts and broadcast a total of 25 instances of false information on YouTube with the intent to slander Kim Soo-hyun, including remarks such as "Kim Soo-hyun has been dating since he was in the second year of middle school," thereby damaging his reputation.

Furthermore, the indictment noted that Kim Se-ui (CEO) 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 personal photos unless Kim Soo-hyun publicly apologized and acknowledged his relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron.

It was also noted that Kim Se-ui (CEO) threatened Kim Soo-hyun's side by saying, "I hope you know that production companies could file for damages of 120 billion won or 180 billion won against Kim Soo-hyun," and implied they would release materials related to the drama featuring Kim Soo-hyun once it was publicly released.

It remains to be seen what arguments Kim Se-ui (CEO), who has continuously exposed Kim Soo-hyun's private life issues, will present at the first trial regarding the defamation charges against Kim Soo-hyun.

Ahead of the pre-trial detention hearing, when asked whether he would admit to the charges, Kim Se-ui (CEO) stated, "I do not admit to anything and plan to refute everything," adding that "(the arrest warrant) is nonsense without even a proper summary of basic facts." Kim Se-ui (CEO) further said, "The issue is that we submitted AI-manipulated audio, yet the National Forensic Service claimed it was impossible to determine AI manipulation. I cannot accept that the South Korean police are denying the National Forensic Service and trusting a private company hired by Kim Soo-hyun."

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*This content was translated by AI.