[Exclusive]'Reassignment of the Collegiate Panel' in Kim Se-se's 'Kim Soo-hyun Defamation' Trial to Accelerate Proceedings

*This content was translated by AI.

Following the transfer of the defamation trial against actor Kim Soo-hyun by Kim Se-ui (CEO), the operator of the channel "Garo-Sero Research Institute" (hereinafter Garo-Sero), to a collegiate panel, the court will accelerate proceedings through a pre-trial conference scheduled for September.

According to StarNews' investigation, Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Collegiate Panel No. 26 has set the pre-trial conference for Kim Se-ui (CEO) on charges including violation of the Information and Communication Network Act (defamation) for September 11. Previously, on the 19th, Seoul Central District Court issued a decision to reassign the case to a collegiate panel. The case was initially assigned to Criminal Single Judge No. 14, which is handled by a single judge, but was reassigned to Criminal Collegiate Panel No. 26, where three judges deliberate, following the reassignment decision.

Reassignment to a collegiate panel is a procedure that allows a case originally assigned to a single judge to be heard by a collegiate panel, considering factors such as the importance of the case. The court may assign cases with complex factual or legal issues, significant social impact, or requiring specialized judgment to a collegiate panel.

In this trial, after the decision to detain and indict was made in June, the hearing dates were postponed and changed twice. Additionally, Kim Se-ui (CEO) filed applications for the cancellation and modification of the law enforcement authorities' seizure order, requested a stay of execution, and later petitioned for a citizen participation trial. Even before the trial officially began, there were numerous changes. With the court's decision to reassign the case to a different panel based on the circumstances, the panel has now confirmed the pre-trial conference date immediately and shown signs of accelerating the proceedings.

Meanwhile, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Women and Children Crime Investigation Division No. 2 (Chief Prosecutor Park Ji-na) 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 materials filmed using cameras, etc.), and violation of the Stalking Punishment Act.

From March to May 2025, Kim Se-ui (CEO) was 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 15 years old, and that the direct cause of her death was pressure from Kim Soo-hyun to repay debts. Additionally, Kim Se-ui (CEO) was also accused of fabricating false information by manipulating the late Kim Sae-ron's voice using generative artificial intelligence (AI) and damaging Kim Soo-hyun's reputation.

On May 26 last year, the court conducted a pre-trial investigation into Kim Se-se regarding the arrest warrant (substantive review of the warrant). Citing concerns about evidence destruction and flight risk, an arrest warrant was issued. At that time, police stated in their arrest warrant application that "Kim Se-ui (CEO) knew well that there was no fact that Kim Soo-hyun had 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 AI-manipulated audio file of the deceased and falsely claimed that 'Kim Sae-ron had been in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun since middle school and had their first sexual intercourse during the winter break of her second year of middle school.'"

Subsequently, Kim Se-ui (CEO) filed a petition for review of the detention appropriateness, but the court rejected it, stating there was "no reason for the petition."

In the indictment, the Prosecution Service stated that Kim Se-ui (CEO) threatened to distribute materials related to Kim Soo-hyun during YouTube live broadcasts. The prosecution alleged that Kim Se-ui (CEO) broadcasted false information 25 times on YouTube, including statements such as "Kim Soo-hyun has been dating Kim Sae-ron since her second year of middle school," with the intent to defame Kim Soo-hyun and damage his reputation by revealing lies.

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." The prosecution alleged that Kim Se-ui (CEO) threatened to continuously release photos related to Kim Soo-hyun's private life unless he publicly apologized and admitted to the relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron.

The indictment also stated that Kim Se-ui (CEO) threatened Kim Soo-hyun's side by saying, "I hope you know that the production company can claim damages of 120 billion won or 180 billion won from Kim Soo-hyun," and threatened to 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 defamation of Kim Soo-hyun.

Ahead of the substantive review of the arrest warrant, when asked if he admitted to the charges, Kim Se-ui (CEO) responded, "I do not admit any of them and plan to refute everything," adding that "(the warrant) is nonsense without even organizing basic facts." Kim Se-ui (CEO) further stated, "The issue is that we submitted AI-manipulated audio, but the National Forensic Service said it is impossible to determine AI manipulation. We 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.