By KTimes
The family of the late actor Kim Sae-ron has filed a defamation complaint against YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, accusing him of spreading false information and causing extreme psychological distress that it believes ultimately contributed to her death.
At a press conference on Monday, attorney Boo Ji-seok of Law Firm Buyou, representing the family, said, “Kim Sae-ron suffered severe emotional pressure during her lifetime due to the videos uploaded by Lee Jin-ho.”
“The defamation charge is just a legal term. We believe Lee’s actions are closer to murder,” Boo said. “We hope the seriousness of his conduct is fully reflected in sentencing and that he faces strict punishment.”
The family said Kim endured deep psychological pain as a result of a series of videos containing false claims that Lee had posted since 2022 on his channel @Behind_Master. The family members specifically criticized the YouTuber’s framing of the social media post containing photos of Kim with Kim Soo-hyun, asserting that the ongoing malicious narrative ultimately drove her to take her own life.
They also accused Lee of attempting to destroy evidence by making the related videos private after Kim’s death, which they say further justifies legal action.
“This is only the first legal step,” Boo said, adding that more complaints are likely to follow. “We intend to hold those responsible for defamation and the spread of false information fully accountable.”
Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seoul on Feb. 16. Following her death, the YouTube channel “HoverLab” claimed that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron had dated for six years beginning in 2015, when she was 15 years old.
As the controversy grew, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, acknowledged that the two had dated in the past but denied that it began during her teenage years, saying the relationship started after she became an adult and ended three years ago.
Request for Kim Soo-hyun’s apology
The family members reiterated their demand for Kim Soo-hyun and his agency to issue a sincere apology for denying the relationship with her during her teenage years and for sending a formal legal letter demanding repayment of 700 million won ($530,000).
Boo said, “After receiving the first formal content verification letter, Kim Sae-ron experienced intense emotional pain and even sent a message to Kim Soo-hyun’s side saying, ‘Please save me.’ When no response came, she posted photos taken during their relationship on social media, hoping it might prompt a reply.”
The attorney said, “Afterward, Kim Soo-hyun’s side sent a second proof of contents, demanding repayment within a specific period and warning her not to contact Kim Soo-hyun again or post additional photos, essentially a threat. It’s difficult to imagine the emotional distress the late actor must have endured.”
The attorney added that further legal steps may follow, saying, “We are considering legal action against Kim Soo-hyun.”
This article is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
