'Kim Soo-hyun defamation': Kim Se-se's side denies allegations, mentions late Kim Sae-ron's mother [Star Scene]

*This content was translated by AI.

The side of Kim Se-se, CEO of Gaseyeon Institute for Horizontal and Vertical Research (hereinafter Gaseyeon), denied the allegations against actor Kim Soo-hyun for defamation during the first pre-trial hearing.

On the afternoon of the 11th, the Criminal Collegiate Panel No. 26 of Seoul Central District Court (Judge Lee Hyeon-gyeong (Director)) held the first pre-trial hearing for Kim Se-se, who was arrested and prosecuted on charges including violation of the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation). There is no legal obligation for the defendant to appear at a pre-trial hearing, so Kim Se-se did not attend.

The court stated, "According to the indictment, the defense argues that the facts alleged are not false. Additionally, the prevailing argument is that the photos released by Kim Se-se do not constitute material likely to cause sexual shame."

In response, Kim Se-se's side argued, "Regarding the defamation charges, the facts alleged are not false. The deceased (late Kim Sae-ron) had a relationship with the victim (Kim Soo-hyun) since she was a minor. There also exist notes written by the victim before his military enlistment, KakaoTalk messages, and photos and videos taken at the victim's residence. The National Forensic Service merely responded that it is difficult to make a judgment on Deep Voice-related matters based solely on the provided materials."

They further stated, "Regarding the cause of the deceased's death, this was only an expression of opinion. The defendant had confirmed with the bereaved family whether the received materials were true and thus had no perception that they were false. The deceased's mother stated that the voice in the recording file is certainly that of her child."

They also argued, "The photos of (Kim Soo-hyun) broadcast on television do not constitute material likely to cause sexual shame. They are daily-life photos taken by the deceased at their residence. No specific body parts were photographed."

Originally, this case was assigned to Criminal Single Judge No. 14 for trial by a single judge, but it was reassigned to Criminal Collegiate Panel No. 26, where three judges will hear the case, following a decision on reorganization of the panel. Reorganization is a procedure that changes a case originally handled by a single judge into one handled jointly by three judges, considering the nature of the case.

Previously, the Women and Juvenile Crime Investigation Division 2 of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office arrested and prosecuted Kim Se-ui (CEO) on charges including violation of the Information and Communications 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 Crime Punishment Act.

Kim Se-se is suspected of spreading false information from March to May last year through YouTube live broadcasts, press conferences, and other means, claiming that the late actor Kim Sae-ron had a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun for about six years since she was a minor and that pressure from Kim Soo-hyun's side over debt repayment caused the deceased's death.

Additionally, she is also suspected of using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate the deceased's voice and fabricating false information that she had been in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun since middle school, thereby damaging Kim Soo-hyun's reputation.

The police and Prosecution Service who investigated the case stated in the indictment that Kim Se-se broadcasted false information 25 times in total for the purpose of defaming Kim Soo-hyun. The charges also include publicly releasing photos exposing Kim Soo-hyun's body and mentioning the possibility of releasing additional photos, thereby coercing Kim Soo-hyun's side to admit to a relationship with the deceased and issue a public apology. However, Kim Se-se has completely denied all allegations.

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*This content was translated by AI.