Alleged impersonators and associates of late Kim Sae-ron sent to prosecution amid Kim Soo-hyun controversy

The allegations of underage dating surrounding actor Kim Soo-hyun have entered a new phase. Goldmedalist, the agency representing Kim Soo-hyun, announced that individuals who impersonated the mother and aunt of the late Kim Sae-ron, as well as a lawyer for the bereaved family and a YouTube operator, have been sent to the prosecution on related charges. As the investigation also covers suspicions of manipulation regarding KakaoTalk conversations and voice recordings between Kim Soo-hyun and the deceased, attention is focused on whether the truth behind the long-standing controversy will be revealed through legal proceedings.

On the 26th, Goldmedalist disclosed the results of the investigation, noting that the mother of the late Kim Sae-ron was sent to the prosecution. The agency stated, "Accomplices who participated in a series of crimes, such as spreading false information along with Kim Se-ui, have been found to have criminal suspicions, and those sent to the prosecution this time include individuals who impersonated the deceased's mother and aunt." However, being sent to the prosecution is a stage where the case is handed over based on investigation results and does not mean guilt has been finalized.

According to the investigation result notice from the Seoul Gangnam Police Station released by the agency, the deceased's mother, A, and the individual B, who impersonated the deceased's aunt, were charged with violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. The charges also include defamation by stating false facts, violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, and attempted coercion. In contrast, a decision not to transfer the case was made regarding the deceased's father, C. The explanation provided is that investigation results differed for each individual based on their specific suspicions and involvement, even though they involve the same bereaved family.

The scope of the investigation expanded to individuals who were not originally included in the complaint. Goldmedalist stated that the police, through a separate investigative recognition, also confirmed suspicions against the bereaved family's lawyer, D, and the YouTube operator, E. The agency explained that they were sent to the prosecution for leading two press conferences or distributing related footage concerning the false and manipulated materials identified by investigative authorities.

Specifically, D is reported to have been charged with defamation under the Criminal Act and defamation by stating false facts under the Information and Communications Network Act. E was sent to the prosecution on charges of distributing footage using a camera, etc., under the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The agency released this information to indicate that investigative authorities examined the roles these individuals played in the spread of allegations surrounding Kim Soo-hyun.

A core issue in this case is the authenticity of the audio files and KakaoTalk conversations presented as evidence to prove the relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron. Previously, Kim Se-ui, the representative of Garo Sero Institute, had continuously claimed through YouTube broadcasts since March of last year that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with the deceased when she was a minor and was responsible for her death. The controversy grew further during a press conference held on behalf of the bereaved family, where materials claimed to be the deceased's voice recordings and conversations exchanged with Kim Soo-hyun were made public.

However, Goldmedalist stated that during the investigation, those materials were confirmed to be false and manipulated. According to the agency, the audio files presented as the voice of the late Kim Sae-ron were judged to be manipulated files created using generative artificial intelligence (AI), and the KakaoTalk conversation content between Kim Soo-hyun and the deceased was also confirmed to be manipulated. Based on these investigation results, representative Kim Se-ui was arrested on charges of spreading false information about Kim Soo-hyun, and the agency explained that investigations into related individuals continued.

The agency expressed gratitude for the investigation and the verification of evidence by the authorities. Goldmedalist stated, "We express deep gratitude to the investigative authorities for their hard work in closely verifying the facts and uncovering the reality of the crimes and the participants based on vast data and objective evidence." Given that the actor's reputation and activities have been impacted by the long-standing allegations, the agency appears to place importance on the facts being verified through the investigation results.

However, the criminal liability of those involved is not finalized solely by this transfer to the prosecution. The prosecution will review the transferred cases to decide whether to indict, and if they are taken to trial, the court will examine the evidence and arguments. Therefore, at this stage, it is necessary to distinguish between the charges applied to each individual by the police and the investigation results released by the agency.

The controversy surrounding Kim Soo-hyun is also an incident that demonstrates how much impact audio files and message captures distributed online can have, moving beyond the private life of a famous actor. If unverified materials are released and allegations spread based on them, it can significantly affect not only the individual's reputation but also public judgment. Attention is focused on how these investigation results will lead to the prosecution's decision and the trial process.

Kim Soo-hyun has been at the center of controversy due to the allegations surrounding him. While the case has entered a new stage with the successive transfer of related individuals to the prosecution, there are still remaining procedures before it can be concluded whether the allegations against Kim Soo-hyun have been legally fully resolved and whether his future activities will resume. The conclusion of this long-standing controversy is expected to be specifically confirmed through investigation and judicial procedures.

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