Kim Soo-hyun's Agency Says Police Sent 4 People Tied to Kim Sae-ron Case to Prosecutors

Police have referred at least four people tied to the late Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family to prosecutors, and the alleged toolkit includes doctored KakaoTalk messages and AI-manipulated voice files. Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Goldmedalist, announced the results on the 26th.

The referred group includes Kim Sae-ron's mother and a person who posed as her aunt. Their charges: defamation through false statements under the information and communications network act, distributing footage shot with a camera under the sexual violence punishment act, and attempted coercion. Her father was not referred.

The lawyer and the YouTuber

The list goes further. Boo Ji-seok, the family's attorney, and YouTuber Kwon Young-chan were also sent to prosecutors. Goldmedalist says the two led a pair of press conferences built on forged or manipulated material, specifically falsified KakaoTalk records and AI voice edits that investigators identified.

Boo faces defamation charges under the criminal code and the network act. Kwon was referred for distributing footage shot with a camera. Police reportedly opened a separate investigation into several of these suspects, who were not named in the original complaints.

This follows Garo Sero Research Institute's Kim Se-ui, who was indicted with detention in June over a related case.

Where Kim Soo-hyun stands

The saga began in March last year, when Garo Sero Research Institute claimed Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. He suspended his activities. His side has maintained they only dated after she became an adult.

The family filed a child welfare act complaint against him, and police declined to refer it in July for insufficient evidence. Goldmedalist thanked investigators for exposing the "substance of the crimes and those involved" through extensive material and objective evidence.

Kim Soo-hyun has since returned to work, with a Philippines ad shoot, a fan meeting and awards appearances. Prosecutors now decide whether the referred suspects are indicted.