Kim Soo-hyun threatens legal action over 'manipulated' materials from Kim Sae-ron’s family

Kim Soo-hyun, left, and Kim Sae-ron / Xportsnews

Actor Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team has suggested that new materials provided by the late actress Kim Sae-ron’s family may have been fabricated — warning that any renewed spread of manipulated evidence would be treated as a grave legal matter.

Attorney Kho Sang-rok, Kim’s legal representative, said in a post on his YouTube channel Monday that “attorney Bu Ji-seok, who represents Kim Sae-ron’s family, has reportedly accepted an interview request from a major network’s investigative news program that began production last week.” Kho added, “We welcome Bu’s decision to give media interviews.”

However, Kho said the situation had taken a concerning turn. “Right after news of the interview broke, several individuals believed to be in contact with an acquaintance of the late Kim Sae-ron began spreading claims on social media that ‘the family has provided previously unreleased materials to their attorney,’” he said. “We view this as a serious warning sign suggesting a potential recurrence of the same fabrication that once caused severe harm to actor Kim Soo-hyun.”

Kho also accused the family of not cooperating with authorities. “The family and their attorney have ignored police requests for months. They even refused to receive the civil complaint filed in March until July, and have still failed to submit a formal reply within the legal deadline,” he said. “At this point, to suddenly claim possession of ‘new evidence that could change everything’ makes no logical sense.”

Kim Soo-hyun / Xportsnews

The lawyer further warned that any new evidence not previously presented to investigators would raise “a strong presumption of fabrication.” He said that “the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has already acknowledged procedural delays and lapses in the original investigation,” adding that “if fabricated materials or further leaks of private information occur under these circumstances, such actions could constitute immediate grounds for arrest.”

The dispute stems from claims made in March through the right-wing YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (also known as Hoverlab), where Kim Sae-ron’s family alleged that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with the actress since she was a middle school student. Kim’s agency denied that. “They did date, but only between the summer of 2019 and the fall of 2020, when Kim Sae-ron was an adult," his agency said.

Kim Soo-hyun’s side has filed a 12 billion won ($8.7 million) lawsuit against Kim Sae-ron’s family for defamation and damages. The actor also held a press conference on March 31, insisting that the KakaoTalk conversations presented by the family “were fabricated.” Despite his defense, public opinion soured, and several brands that had hired Kim as a model reportedly demanded compensation.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.