Kim Se-eui, head of the Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon), who was arrested on charges including spreading false information and defaming actor Kim Soo-hyun, will be investigated while in custody.
On the 2nd, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Division 8-1 (presiding judges Cha Seung-hwan, Choi Hae-il, and Choi Jin-sook) dismissed the petition to review the legality of detention filed by Kim, who was arrested on charges including defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, intimidation, and violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes. A detention legality review is a procedure in which the court reconsiders the lawfulness and necessity of a suspect's arrest.
After the hearing that day, Kim argued to reporters for his release and said, "Serious spreading false information and defamation against me, the late actor Kim Sae-ron, and the bereaved family are taking place," adding, "Because my arrest could turn the claims of me, actor Kim Sae-ron, and the bereaved family into lies, today's ruling is extremely important."
Prosecutors allege that from March to May last year, Kim spread false information via YouTube broadcasts and at a press conference that Kim dated the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor and that the deceased died due to pressure to repay Kim's debt. He is also accused of manipulating an audio recording related to the deceased and KakaoTalk chat logs.
Police sought an arrest warrant, saying Kim broadcast or used false information at a press conference without sufficient verification for the purpose of YouTube revenue. Police also determined that the KakaoTalk chats and audio files released by Kim's side were manipulated and edited materials. They also believed some content was edited, such as changing the chat counterpart's name in KakaoTalk screenshots received from the bereaved family to "Kim Soo-hyun" and inserting a profile photo.
Kim has denied the allegation of dating a minor. The National Forensic Service reached a conclusion of "inconclusive" on whether the audio file in question was manipulated by AI.
On the 26th, Presiding Judge Bu Dong-sik, who is in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, issued an arrest warrant for Kim, citing concerns about destruction of evidence and flight risk.