Kim Se-eui, head of HoverLab Inc., has been indicted and sent to trial while in custody on charges including spreading false information about actor Kim Soo Hyun.
On the 23rd, the Second Division for Women and Children’s Crimes at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office announced it had indicted Kim on charges including defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, and violations of the Stalking Punishment Act.
According to prosecutors, since March last year Kim claimed via YouTube streams and press conferences that the late Kim Sae Ron had dated Kim Soo Hyun since she was a minor, and spread the assertion that her death was caused by pressure from Kim Soo Hyun’s side to repay debts.
He also allegedly aired Kim Soo Hyun’s private photos, teased further “exposés,” and demanded a public apology. During supplementary investigations, prosecutors interviewed victims and analyzed audio files, concluding that Kim arbitrarily edited or distorted materials and spread private-life claims without even minimal fact-checking, causing harm.
Prosecutors also reportedly confirmed signs that he indiscriminately used fabricated materials to disseminate falsehoods about the victim’s private life. In this process, he allegedly used artificial intelligence to manipulate Kim Sae Ron’s voice to create fabricated claims, thereby defaming Kim Soo Hyun.
Before indictment, following a pretrial detention warrant hearing, Kim was arrested on May 26 over concerns about evidence destruction and flight risk. He denied the charges and requested a detention review, but the court rejected it. He will therefore stand trial while remaining in custody.
Prosecutors stated they will respond strictly to malicious content crimes that spread fake news and incite public attacks against specific individuals.
Kim Soo Hyun’s side is also pursuing civil action. They previously filed a damages lawsuit of approximately 12 billion KRW against Kim and others, and are reportedly considering increasing the claim to around 30 billion KRW.