Prosecutors effectively closed the investigation into the so-called "minor grooming" allegations surrounding actor Kim Soo-hyun, after they did not request supplementary investigation or a reinvestigation, following police deciding not to refer the case due to insufficient evidence.
According to legal sources on the 7th, prosecutors returned the investigation records to police on Oct. 3 for the complaints against Kim Soo-hyun on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act and false accusation.
Earlier, the Seoul Seongdong Police Station decided on July 29 not to refer the case, judging there was not enough evidence to acknowledge the charges raised against Kim Soo-hyun, and sent the related records to prosecutors.
After reviewing the records, prosecutors sent them back to police without requesting a separate supplementary investigation or a reinvestigation. Accordingly, the complaint cases related to Kim Soo-hyun that have continued since last year have effectively concluded, with the police decision not to refer the case maintained.
The case began in May last year when the bereaved family of the late Kim Sae-ron filed a complaint against Kim Soo-hyun on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act.
The bereaved family claimed Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with Kim Sae-ron since she was a minor and that there was sexual and emotional abuse during this period, including the so-called "grooming." Kim Se-eui, head of the Garosero Research Institute, also filed a countersuit for false accusation after Kim Soo-hyun sued him for defamation.
Police conducted a comprehensive investigation into the materials submitted by the bereaved family and by Kim, related persons' statements, and the two people's relationship and facts at the time, but determined there was not enough evidence to acknowledge Kim Soo-hyun's charges.
Attorney Ko Sang-rok, legal representative for Kim Soo-hyun, said the investigation was not limited to a specific period of Kim Sae-ron's life.
Ko said, "The investigation covered the overall allegations raised, including up to the time that people commonly recognize as the period of being a minor, the senior year of high school," adding, "Police investigated not only the claims and submitted materials raised by the other side, but also the relationship at the time and related facts, and determined that Kim Soo-hyun could not be found to have violated the Child Welfare Act."
During the investigation, the authenticity of some materials that had been disclosed as the basis for allegations related to Kim Soo-hyun was also was found.
Police reportedly determined that a voice recording file released by Kim was fabricated using generative artificial intelligence (AI). Materials presented as KakaoTalk messages between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were also deemed to be falsified.
Since March last year, Kim has raised various allegations about the relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron through YouTube and other platforms. Together with the bereaved family of Kim Sae-ron, Kim also held a press conference and released audio files and messenger chat materials.
Subsequently, Kim was arrested in May on charges including spreading false information related to Kim Soo-hyun and was indicted in June. The date of the first trial has been rescheduled due to procedures including a request for a jury trial.