Actor Kim Soo-hyun's agency has released a statement regarding the arrest and referral of Kim Se-ui, the head of the YouTube channel Hover Lab, calling it "an investigation outcome based strictly on evidence and facts."
On June 4, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Goldmedalist, announced in an official statement, "Following the police investigation into multiple lawsuits and complaints filed by Kim Soo-hyun and our agency against Kim Se-ui, charges have been forwarded. These include defamation by spreading false information under the Information and Communications Network Act, violation of the Stalking Punishment Act, violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes (such as the distribution of camera-recorded materials), attempted coercion, and intimidation." The agency added, "Considering the gravity of the matter, the police have arrested and referred Kim Se-ui to the prosecution."
They continued, "We would like to express our deepest gratitude to those who have spoken up for a long time on behalf of Kim Soo-hyun, who, despite not being a direct party to the incident, trusted and waited for the legal process. We also extend our thanks to those who worked hard to cover the story firsthand to uncover the truth, and to everyone who helped bring the reality of this case to light."
They also emphasized, "We are deeply grateful to the investigative authorities who silently fulfilled their responsibilities behind the scenes, conducting the investigation based solely on evidence and facts to uncover the truth. We also thank the judicial authorities for making a fair and strict decision regarding the suspect's custody."
Goldmedalist particularly added, "Above all, we sincerely thank the fans who have supported and stood by Kim Soo-hyun for such a long time. The trust and encouragement from our fans have been a source of great strength during these difficult times."
Earlier that day, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station arrested and referred Kim Se-ui to the prosecution on charges of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, violation of the Stalking Punishment Act, violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes, attempted coercion, and intimidation.
Since last year, Kim Se-ui has repeatedly made claims suggesting that Kim Soo-hyun had been dating the late Kim Sae-ron since she was a minor, and that the cause of Kim Sae-ron's death was due to pressure from Kim Soo-hyun's side to repay debts. During the investigation, the police reportedly determined that Kim Se-ui defamed Kim Soo-hyun by spreading false information, which included releasing a voice recording manipulated using AI technology.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)