[Exclusive]'Kim Soo-hyun defamation arrest' Kim Se-ye's trial, ultimately reassigned to a collegiate panel

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The trial of Kim Se-ui (CEO), the operator of the channel of Garoseoro Research Institute (hereinafter "Gaseoyeon"), on charges of defaming actor Kim Soo-hyun has been transferred to a collegiate panel.

According to a StarNews investigation on the 25th, Seoul Central District Court issued a decision for reassignment to a collegiate panel on the 19th regarding the case involving Kim Se-ui (CEO)'s alleged violations of the Information and Communication Network Act (defamation), among other charges. The case was initially assigned to Criminal Division 14, which is handled by a single judge, but was reassigned to Criminal Collegiate Panel 26, where three judges deliberate, following the decision for reassignment to a collegiate panel.

Reassignment to a collegiate panel is a procedure in which a case originally handled by a single judge is transferred to a collegiate panel for deliberation, considering factors such as the importance of the case. The court may assign cases with complex factual or legal issues, those with significant social impact, or those requiring specialized judgment to a collegiate panel.

In this trial, a decision was made to arrest and indict Kim Se-ui (CEO) in June, followed by two postponements and changes to the hearing dates. Additionally, before the trial even began, there have been numerous developments, including Kim Se-ui (CEO)'s application for a quasi-appeal to revoke or modify the law enforcement authorities' seizure order, an application for suspension of execution, and a request for a citizen participation trial. With the court's decision to reassign the case to a different panel based on the circumstances, signs of a prolonged legal process are also emerging.

Meanwhile, the Women and Children Crime Investigation Division 2 (Chief Prosecutor Park Ji-na) of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Service 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 Crimes (distribution of materials filmed using cameras, etc.), and violation of the Stalking Punishment Act.

Kim Se-ui (CEO) is accused of spreading false information through YouTube live broadcasts and press conferences from March to May 2025, 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) and spreading it, thereby damaging Kim Soo-hyun's reputation.

The court conducted a pre-trial investigation into the arrest warrant for Kim Se-ye on May 26 last year and subsequently issued an arrest warrant citing concerns over evidence destruction and flight risk. At that time, police stated in their arrest warrant application that "Kim Se-ui (CEO) was well aware that there was no fact of Kim Soo-hyun having a relationship with 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 for the purpose of defamation." They also reported that "on May 7, 2025, during a press conference, Kim Se-ui (CEO) played an audio file manipulated by AI featuring the late Kim Sae-ron's voice and falsely stated 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 winter break of her second year of middle school.'"

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

In the indictment, the Prosecutors' Service stated that Kim Se-ui (CEO) threatened to distribute materials related to Kim Soo-hyun during a YouTube live broadcast and made 25 false statements on YouTube broadcasts with the intent to defame Kim Soo-hyun, including remarks such as "Kim Soo-hyun has been dating [the late] Kim Sae-ron since her 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 expose Kim Soo-hyun's shameless behavior," threatening to continuously release photos related to his private life unless he publicly apologized. The indictment also alleged that Kim Se-ui (CEO) forced him to admit to the relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron and apologize.

It was also noted that Kim Se-ui (CEO) threatened Kim Soo-hyun's side by saying, "I hope you know that the production company could file a lawsuit for damages of 120 billion won or 180 billion won against Kim Soo-hyun," implying they would distribute materials related to the drama in which Kim Soo-hyun appeared once it was 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 in this first trial regarding the defamation of Kim Soo-hyun.

Ahead of the pre-trial investigation into the arrest warrant, when asked if he admitted to the charges, Kim Se-ui (CEO) stated, "I do not admit to any of them 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 is impossible to determine AI manipulation. We cannot accept that the South Korean police are denying the National Forensic Service and choosing to trust a private company hired by Kim Soo-hyun."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original