Kim Se-ui, head of the YouTube channel Hover Lab who was indicted and detained on charges including defamation against actor Kim Soo-hyun, has requested his release citing mental health issues.

The 26th Criminal Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Hyun-kyung) held a bail hearing for Kim on October 15. During the hearing, Kim's defense attorney stated that Kim is experiencing personal security threats due to broadcasts involving terror threats and is living in solitary confinement, arguing that "having mental health conditions such as panic disorder, living in solitary confinement poses a risk to his mental well-being." The attorney added, "His deposit funds have been seized, making him unable to even purchase medication. He has a fixed residence, so there is no risk of flight, and no risk of harming victims. As a result of requesting the National Forensic Service to analyze the audio file, a response was received stating that it was impossible to determine whether it was AI-manipulated."

Attending the court in a green prisoner uniform, Kim claimed there was no risk of flight as he was confident of his innocence.

Given the opportunity to speak directly, Kim stated, "I have absolute confidence in my innocence in this trial, so there is no reason to flee." He claimed that because Kim Soo-hyun's side filed a civil lawsuit amounting to around 15 billion won against him and the bereaved family of the late Kim Sae-ron, resulting in the provisional attachment of his apartment, "Even to protect my precious asset, the apartment, there is no risk of flight." He added, "Due to the detention, I have already been demonized across various media outlets. Defamation is already severe," and stated, "I did not broadcast by listening only to one-sided claims, but through reporting and analysis."

Prosecutors opposed the bail. Prosecutors pointed out the risk of reoffending and harm to the victims, stating that if released, Kim "is highly likely to disseminate distorted facts, claiming the bail means he is innocent." They added, "He has been broadcasting by sending letters from the detention center, and in the process, leaking trial documents for unintended purposes."

Prosecutors pointed out that Kim's side is misleading people into thinking there are no grounds for detention, citing the reasons for withdrawing certain evidence such as the audio file analysis result. Prosecutors explained, "Evidence is already sufficient, and redundant evidence was simply withdrawn for a speedy trial, which is unrelated to the grounds for detention," conveying the intention that the withdrawal of evidence was feared to be misused for broadcasting.

Kim was indicted and detained last June on charges of spreading false information via YouTube and other platforms—specifically, that Kim Soo-hyun was in a relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor, and that the cause of Kim Sae-ron's death was debt repayment pressure from Kim Soo-hyun's side. He also faces charges of intimidation, such as broadcasting private photos of Kim Soo-hyun without permission and demanding a public apology while implying the exposure of private life materials.



(Photo: Yonhap News) (SBS Entertainment News, Reporter Kang Kyung-yoon)