The first trial for Kim Se-ui, the head of YouTube channel Hover Lab who was indicted on charges including spreading false information about YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jung-won), will be held on the 13th.

Judge Jung Ah-young of Criminal Division 20 at the Seoul Central District Court will hold the first trial hearing at 11:10 a.m. for Kim on charges of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, Etc. (Defamation), the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, Etc. of Stalking, and coercion.

Kim is accused of producing and distributing provocative content using Tzuyang's personal life for the purpose of generating profit through donations via support accounts. He is also accused of coercing Tzuyang into broadcasting an explanation regarding his exposés and maliciously defaming her. The investigation into this case began in July of last year when Tzuyang's side filed a complaint with the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul, and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Women and Children Crime Investigation Division 2 indicted Kim without detention on March 31.

This trial was originally scheduled for its first hearing on April 20, but was delayed for nearly four months as Kim changed his legal counsel and repeatedly submitted requests for rescheduling. On June 24, Kim submitted a request for a closed trial hearing, followed by a statement of absence the next day. In response, Judge Jung stated her policy not to grant rescheduling requests and warned that she could consider issuing a warrant for his arrest at the next hearing.

Prior to this, Kim urged supporters to come to the court in large numbers to show their support through a prison letter released on the Hover Lab channel on the 11th. In the letter, while expressing the difficulties of prison life amid the intense heat, he reportedly stated his intention to boldly step into the courtroom even in his prisoner uniform.

Meanwhile, separately from this case, Kim is currently incarcerated after being detained and indicted on charges of spreading false information regarding the relationship between the late actor Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun. He is accused of spreading fake social media chat screens and audio files created with AI, claiming that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron for six years when she was a minor, and the related trial is scheduled to be held separately on the 14th.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)