In relation to the late Kim Sae-ron's alleged relationship with a minor and the 'grooming suspicion,' actor Kim Soo-hyun's side is strengthening its offensive. Viewing the essence of this incident as 'evidence fabrication' and a 'nationwide fraud case,' Kim Soo-hyun has taken a hardline stance. Seven months after the tearful press conference, attention is focused on whether Kim Soo-hyun can clear his name as he claims.
On the 27th, attorney Ko Sang-rok, Kim Soo-hyun's legal representative, on his blog rebutted point by point the overall claims made by the family of the late Kim Sae-ron.
Attorney Ko Sang-rok said about the late Kim Sae-ron's death, "What can be inferred from the background, in light of the several circumstances revealed after the fact, is that in January of this year, shortly before her death, she married in the United States hoping for a better life than before, but that marriage ended in failure, and after returning to Korea even her plan to open a café fell through, leading her to feel deep despair about her situation. The family's representative said at a press conference that 'the deceased had so many self-harm attempts that even family did not know them all,' which is consistent with what we have identified. Among the repeated self-harm incidents by the deceased, the last attempt ultimately led to death."
Attorney Ko said the 2022 drunk driving incident was the beginning of the misfortune, saying, "During that period, it was confirmed by multiple materials that the deceased was effectively cut off from family relationships. With emotional bonds already severed, she no longer expected comfort or support from family," and added, "If the child repeatedly engaged in so much self-harm that they reached a dangerous state and the family failed to properly grasp that situation, the substantial severance of family ties should be seen as having begun long ago."
Regarding the 'fake aunt' testimony, he said, "A person of unknown identity claimed that on Jan. 8 of this year the deceased attempted self-harm and that the speaker and their family cared for the deceased, but on that day the deceased was in the United States and it was officially documented that she registered a marriage there. Nearly 100% of this person's testimony of the information disclosed so far is false," he claimed.
Attorney Ko Sang-rok, who said "the essence of this case is character assassination through evidence fabrication," emphasized, "They defamed an innocent victim with false materials and manipulated voice files. The case spread to foreign media and damaged trust across the Korean Wave industry. This is an international-scale cybercrime," and asked, "Is the person you remember someone who, after nearly 10 years, met a man in a foreign place with no special connection, borrowed a few hundred dollars at a café, answered every question that man asked, and talked about sexual relations from her minor years with vulgar profanity mixed in?"
The conflict surrounding Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron began when the family claimed the deceased had been in a six-year romantic relationship with Kim Soo-hyun starting when she was 15 in 2015. The family presented messages from 2016 and 2018 as evidence and alleged that Kim Soo-hyun framed himself as a 'pedophile' and 'grooming a minor.'
In response, Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference and said, "Dating during the minor years is not true," and denied that the 2016 and 2018 KakaoTalk messages were exchanged by him. Kim Soo-hyun's side drew a line, saying the relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron began in the summer of 2019 after she became an adult, and it was also disclosed that Kim Soo-hyun had dated actor A, a former idol, from 2016 to 2019 for three years. That implied there was no possibility he was dating the late Kim Sae-ron during the period the family claims, strengthening Kim Soo-hyun's assertion.
Currently, Kim Soo-hyun's side has filed lawsuits for defamation and damages against the family and YouTubers, formalizing the legal battle, and the family of the late Kim Sae-ron has countersued Kim Soo-hyun for violations of the Child Welfare Act and false accusation, continuing the dispute over the truth, while attorney Ko Sang-rok daily asserts Kim Soo-hyun's grievances and raises the offensive.
On March 31, Kim Soo-hyun shed tears in an effort to show his innocence. However, the family and a YouTube channel intensified their level of exposure and pressured Kim Soo-hyun, and it is reported he later relieved stress by hiking and is gathering himself. Eight months after the late Kim Sae-ron's death and seven months after the tearful press conference, attention is focused on whether Kim Soo-hyun, who is insisting on his innocence and intensifying his offensive, will restore his reputation.
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