South Korean Police Launch Defamation Investigations Involving Kim Soo-hyun and the Late Kim Sae-ron

South Korean police have launched defamation probes involving Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress Kim Sae-ron, following public controversy.

Seoul, 24 March 2025 – South Korean authorities have initiated defamation investigations concerning actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress Kim Sae-ron. During a press briefing held earlier today, Park Hyun-soo, acting chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, confirmed that a formal complaint was filed on 20 March at Gangnam Police Station in relation to Kim Soo-hyun.

The case is set to proceed with interviews and further enquiries. Separately, another investigation involving YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, also linked to defamation allegations regarding Kim Sae-ron, was transferred to Seo-daemun Police Station on 17 March. Authorities confirmed that preparations for questioning are currently underway.

In regard to Kim Sae-ron’s passing, police noted that an autopsy was conducted on 12 March, but the initial findings revealed an undetermined cause of death. Additional forensic tests are being carried out, and further investigations will follow once the results are available.

A high-profile case with legal ramifications

The controversy erupted after the Garosero Research Institute released an image allegedly provided by Kim Sae-ron’s family. The image suggested a romantic relationship between the actress and Kim Soo-hyun dating back to 2015, when she was still a minor. Although Kim Soo-hyun’s agency initially dismissed the claims as false, subsequent photographs clarified that the relationship only began after Kim Sae-ron reached adulthood—prompting legal action from both sides.

According to local reports, Kim Soo-hyun’s representatives have filed an official complaint against Garosero for spreading misleading information. Meanwhile, Kim Sae-ron’s family, represented by lawyer Bu Ji-seok, has taken legal steps against Lee Jin-ho, who had publicly denied the existence of a romantic relationship between the two. Following Kim Sae-ron’s death on 16 February 2025, Lee Jin-ho removed all related content from his channel.

These developments unfold amidst growing public discourse in South Korea regarding the balance between freedom of speech and the protection of privacy in the digital age.

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