Police determined that charges including defamation by alleging false facts and violations of the anti-stalking law are substantiated against Garosero Research Institute head Kim Se-eui. Actor Kim Soo-hyun's side released the police investigation result notice containing these findings and expressed gratitude to the investigative and judicial authorities.
According to the police investigation result notice released on the 5th by Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, police determined that charges are substantiated against Kim, including violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, attempted coercion, and intimidation.
Seoul Gangnam Police Station sent Kim to prosecutors the previous day under arrest. Kim is accused of spreading through YouTube broadcasts and other channels claims that Kim Soo-hyun dated the late Kim Sae-ron and that pressure from Kim Soo-hyun's side to repay debt was behind Kim Sae-ron's death. Gold Medalist said, "Considering the seriousness of the matter, police sent Kim Se-eui to prosecutors under arrest."
Police also applied a charge that Kim manipulated Kim Sae-ron's voice using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to fabricate false statements about Kim Soo-hyun. They further concluded that Kim disseminated the content despite recognizing it was false.
In a statement, Gold Medalist said, "We express deep gratitude to the investigative authorities, who quietly fulfilled their responsibilities out of the public eye, conducted the investigation based solely on evidence and facts, and revealed the truth, and to the judicial authorities, who made fair and strict decisions regarding the suspect's custody." It continued, "We are deeply grateful to those who raised their voices for a long time on behalf of Mr. Kim Soo-hyun, who waited for the procedures set by law," and added, "We sincerely thank the fans who supported Mr. Kim Soo-hyun and stayed with him for a long time."
Kim Soo-hyun's side filed a police complaint against Kim in May last year. After an investigation, police sought an arrest warrant for Kim on the 14th of last month, and the court issued the warrant on the 26th after a pretrial detention review, citing concerns about evidence destruction and flight risk. Kim requested a review of the legality of the detention on the 31st of the same month, but the court rejected it on the 2nd.
Separately from this criminal case, Kim Soo-hyun's side has also signaled a civil damages claim. Previously, Kim Soo-hyun's side said it would increase the damages claim against Kim and others from the existing 12 billion won to 30 billion won.